Complaint volume
626 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
2020 Toyota RAV4 Complaints
626 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Toyota RAV4, grouped by component category.
626 Total complaints
17 Crash reports
5 Fire reports
11 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 engine, fuel/propulsion system, 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 17 crash reports, 5 fire reports, 11 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 194 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 15,183 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, fuel/propulsion system, 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 2020 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.
2020 Toyota RAV4
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2020 Toyota RAV4 complaints?
17 Crash
5 Fire
11 Injury
0 Fatality
16 Towed
10 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 Toyota RAV4 complaint categories?
ENGINE 119
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 78
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 70
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 62
STRUCTURE 42
AIR BAGS 39
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 20
STEERING 16
POWER TRAIN 15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 12
626 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2023 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | error code P1C80-49 because of Toyota terrible manufacturing defect | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2023 | ENGINE | The vehicle fails to start if it has been sitting for only 2-3 days, once it failed to start just after an extra long day at work. I have it serviced faithfully every 5,ooo miles and have brought it in an additional 4 times for this problem. I filed a report with Toyota Corporate on January 5, 2023 and they had someone call the next day while I was at work. I called back 6 times but have never been able to actually speak to a case manager. I keep getting promised a call back multiple times but never received one. I even called tonight when I was promised a call, the case manager was available, but told the agent on the phone with me that he would call me by the end of the day. He never did. I called back again and was promised a call tomorrow. I keep getting the same run around. I have literally spent hours on the phone with them, many many hours at the service shop, and many hours inconvenienced by having my car battery jumped. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2023 | STRUCTURE | Due to recent rains in CA I noticed the headliner near the upper a-frame pillar was damp on both the drivers and passenger side. With a quick search online it is a common problem among 2019-present Toyota Rav4 owners. As of this writing I do not know of a public Toyota approve fix. https://www.rav4world.com/threads/potential-safety-issue-for-rav4-adventure-owners.304363/#post-2770286 https://www.rav4world.com/threads/2019-roof-rack-leak.305629/ I took the car in for service with a Toyota dealer to have the leak addressed within a couple days of noticing the damp headliner. They performed a repair and said all was good. Less than a week later, the same issue occurred. Again, I brought the car back as soon I as I noticed the leak and they did a more thorough repair, replacing more roof rail components. A little over 3 weeks later I noticed the same issue with condensation build up in the car and after looking behind the a-frame covering there were puddles of water in the plastic covering. Again the dealer notified me the repair was done and everything was good, when I picked up the car the head liner was still wet, and I left the car with them. Currently the vehicle is still is possession of the dealer pending next steps. In total the dealer has had the vehicle for 15+ days as of this writing. I am concerned with what other damage is occurring to the airbags, airbag systems, electronic components, electrical connections, and Toyota Safety Sense systems due to prolonged water exposure that could prevent safety systems from operating as and when intended. I am also concerned about mold growth due to the prolonged water exposure and the effect it may have on myself and my passengers. Other than visual indicators of seeing water dripping and damp headliner, there was no indication that the roof was leaking. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The original battery completely drains when the car is off and no electrical equipment is kept on. This has happened on at least four occasions and car is unable to be turned on or even jumped with another car. The dealer (Toyota Umansky - Charlottesville, VA) has been unable to fix the problem and it it reoccurs. Based on my reading of this issue in similar models of the 2020 Rav 4 Hybrid, the "parasitic battery" can cause other electric malfunctions that would affect safety. Also, the description of this defect is substantially similar to the problems I face with my vehicle. I would like to add my model/ vin to the known batch of defective models with this problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The battery in my hybrid Rav 4 repeatedly goes dead if I don't drive the vehicle for 2 days. I reported the issue to my dealership and they charged the battery but it didn't fix the problem. The next time I brought it in for the same issue they did a software update they said would fix it. However, I have had the same problem once more and they again claim it's just a software update to fix, even though there have been no technology changes to my vehicle since they last "fixed it". In consequence, my vehicle will not start reliably which has left my husband stranded after work on a cold January day, and left me stranded at home from getting to work two additional times. Every time I bring it to the dealership they dismiss the problem but none of their attempts have resolved the issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | After 20 minutes of driving, the vehicle caught fire under the hood and was completely destroyed. When I first started driving the car that morning, I noticed an odd smell coming from the heater. It didn't smell like smoke or burning; I best equate it to the smell of a hair dryer. This is the first time I'd ever smelled that odor in this car. At this point there were no warning messages or alerts on the dashboard that would indicate an issue. After driving for around 20 minutes, I noticed smoke coming from under the hood. There were still no warning lights on the dashboard. I immediately pulled over into an open parallel parking spot on the side of the road (busy city street) and shut the car off. While I was assisting the other 2 passengers out of the car, flames became visible coming from under the hood. The source of the flames appeared to be the top driver's side under the hood (in front of steering wheel). We called 911 and stepped back to a safe distance. The fire was extremely aggressive and the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames in just a couple minutes. The fire was so intense that it caught the car parked in front on fire (which also became completely destroyed). The fire department responded after roughly 5 minutes and put out the fire. Fortunately, no injuries resulted from this incident. There was so much damage to the vehicle that the fire investigator was not able to offer a definitive opinion as to which specific engine/battery component likely started the fire. The remains of the car are currently in possession of GEICO. I was the original owner of the vehicle, which had no history of accidents, repairs, or modifications. It had been regularly serviced for routine maintenance at the local Toyota service department, most recently in early December 2022 (approximately 3 weeks prior to the fire). | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| Dec 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | -Windshield cowl not properly screened from manufacturer in order to protect from rodents entering . Mouse/rodent infestation found in various compartments, including nests, droppings, and "other material" that made its way into the engine and HVAC, and even a dead mouse in the main cabin- all resulting from entering through windshield Cowl. Service report available if needed -Breathing in mice droppings, urine, and decomposing animals is a major health risk that can cause severe illness. -Service department performed removal, cleaning, disinfecting, and replacements of components. Service Department stated this has been happening much more frequently with the newer Toyota's as the wires used attract these rodents. This one service department in particular has even created a "Rodent Pro Service" for rodent infestation which includes cleaning and disinfecting of affected areas, and also installing a steel mesh screen to avoid future entrance from windshield cowl -Only warning was a dead mouse found inside main cabin | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES | Squealing noise when stopping or braking under 3 mph. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2022 | STEERING | Power steering would not work. Warning lights on dash came on which was a steering wheel with an exclamation point. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | when car is subject to rain or car washed, the headliner gets saturated at the "A" pillar and the "C" pillar. This water seems to be coming from under the roof rails. I have tested sunroof drain and they are open leaving the only other area to leak at the insertion of the roof rails. I have never had anything attached to them to add excess weight but have also hearing and finding many other reports of this happening. My concern is having the headliner ruined AND malfunction of the airbags. This has been reported to my Toyota dealer twice and I have been told that they are unaware of any issues with the seals on the roof rails. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owned a 2020 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked for approximately nine hours and unoccupied, it spontaneously caught fire without warning. The fire department extinguished the fire. The fire department informed him the fire was due to a failure with the electrical system or fuel pump. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment or police reports filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The insurance company adjuster deemed the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,500. | Crash: No Fire: Yes Towed | 35,500 |
| Nov 2022 | SUSPENSION | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH and turning right onto a main road, there was a loud clicking noise coming from under the front end of the vehicle. The contact stated that the noise was intermittent. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V286000 (Suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 22,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 22,000 |
| Nov 2022 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Toyota and Lexus vehicles equipped with fuel pumps and manufactured by dense international America and its affiliates contain a defective component. - settlement paper states this that I received in the mail, in which I am a class member of. I was driving my car roughly a year ago, when my car shut off in the middle of the road and would not turn back on period. Road side assistance had to come retrieve my car, and haul it to the dealership. Today I still have this faulty fuel pump in my car, that could shut off at any point in time while I'm driving down the road. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | LANE DEPARTURE | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the "Lane Departure System" jerked the vehicle into the left lane; the contact steered the vehicle back into his original lane. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated or warning chime had sounded. The contact stated that the failure had occurred twice. The contact stated that he turned off the "Lane Departure System”. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40,000 |
| Oct 2022 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Before purchasing this car (used, certified) I asked the salesman if the 2020 RAV4 Hybrid had the fuel filling issue I had read about in the 2019. He said he'd never heard of it; I told him it was all over the internet and he said "oh, that's for earlier models." So I bought the car. Immediately had issue where I can't get more than 10.5 gallons of gas in the tank when fuel light is on and DTE is 20 or less. The advertised fuel capacity is 14.5. I have a long daily commute and bought this car for the range. I asked the dealer again and they provided me with Toyota's chart that shows 2.5 gallons of "reserve" at the bottom and another 1-2 for "air" at the top of the tank. Yes, Toyota thinks you can fuel their cars with air. I then called Toyota HQ and they said the fuel tank on this car was already taken care of as part of their customer support bulletin. They said it was still under warrantee and should be replaced again — "fixed properly." Dealer still refuses to take care of this issue, telling me now that the 2.5 gallons of "reserve" on the bottom is "unusable." As a woman who commutes long distances daily on rural roads, this frightens me. What if I run out of fuel because I think that I've got 2.5 gallons of "reserve" to make it to the next open gas station — only to run out of gas on a cold, dark winter's night? As dramatic as I am being, the point is that not only is this is a potential safety issue, it's also absolute fraud on Toyotas part — a car advertised as having a 14.5 gallon/572 mile range takes only 10.4 gallons with a 425 mile range. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | On September 16, 2022, I discovered the vehicle battery died. I charged the battery through a jump start. The car worked normally, except the radio and infotainment system failed to work, constantly rebooting in an endless cycle while the car was powered on. On September 29, 2022, I brought the car for service at Star Toyota of Bayside, New York, to diagnose the issue. On September 30, 2022, the service advisor told me that the entire infotainment system had to be replaced at a cost of about $1,400.00. The car is out of warranty apparently due to its mileage even though it is from 2020. The fact that a simple, common issue such as a dead batter caused this catastrophic damage to the infotainment system is totally, absolutely unacceptable. I now question the electrical integrity of these cars and I hope that NHTSA will undertake an investigation. I also seek full reimbursement from Toyota for all costs associated with this repair. I have video of the system rebooting. The file is too large to upload to this website with its 10MB file size limit. I'd be happy to provide it by other means. Thank you for your consideration. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The infotainment system stopped working after the car was 2 years and 3 months old. The screen flashes on and off and the screen is not responsive. The dealership disconnected the battery to do a hard reset and this did not help the issue. Also they were not able to update the software and said the radio/infotainment system which controls my radio, Bluetooth, navigation, and apple car play would need to be replaced all together for $1700. I have kept up with my maintenance schedule in general and have not had or done anything to have the radio/infotainment system to completely stop working. This is also distracting when driving having the screen flash on and off, especially at night. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2022 | ENGINE | I was driving down the hwy doing 75mph, herd a loud bang and vehical lost all power, was passing an exit right at the moment this happened and immediately pulled out and was able to coast to a stop. The exhaust smoked for a while and it left a huge puddle of what looked like motor oil where it stoped and never started back up again. Ended up having to have it towed to a dealership where im told it threw a rod and being as how there is already a recall on this engine for possible cracks im thinking this model probably need to be added to the recall list. The car has been sitting at the dealership where the tow truck left it. There is a recall involving the possibility that cracks could form in the engine, leading to coolant or oil leaks and stalling, overheating, or engine fires. If I hadnt had both my hands on the wheel I could have lost control and killed myself or worst off if there had been cars around me I could have caused a fatal accident. In this case the problem cant be reproduced as the engine is ruined but would be happy to offer to have it inspected. I have kept up with all the manufacturers maintenance request and there were no signs of a problem prior. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2022 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH with the windows and sunroof opened, the contact heard an abnormal sound and noticed that the sunroof had exploded without impact. The other occupant was seated in the rear of the vehicle. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was contacted and provided a cost for the repair. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000. The VIN was not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | 34,000 |
| Sep 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I want to file a complaint against Toyota for their design of air conditioner placement. My 2020 RAV4 just had to have repair including condenser replaced. Toyota's design allows rocks/foreign objects/debris to get behind the grill and damage the air conditioning system. There is no guard to stop these. This is on regular highway/rural road driving. I understand that the RAV4 is not the only Toyota car that has this design. My car is still under warranty, but this was not covered as it was deemed road hazard. I am unsure of the date this happened as I just started to notice it was not cooling efficiency and at first attributed it to Florida weather but as the days went on realized that there was something wrong. Estimate from Toyota Dealership was $1300.00 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2022 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V373000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 43,000 |
| Aug 2022 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | We are not able to fill the gas tanks up on our vehicles to full published capacity of 14g. Lucky to get 10g. This limits the vehicle’s driving range. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I was driving at about 65mph with a few windows down and the sun roof closed. The temperature was around 80degrees, when all of the sudden there was a huge POP sound. I opened the sun roof cover and saw that it was the sun roof that shattered. All the glass was broken. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | On May 12, 2022 I was driving our 2022 Rav4 Hybrid. At about 10 am that morning I arrived at the Sherwin Williams store in Chandler, AZ. I applied the brakes and put the car in park. But the car did not stop! It continued to forge ahead, smashing into the building barrier and even then it kept trying to move forward. 1.The whole front end was smashed. 2.The first responders had to pry open the door to extract me from the car. 3.It was later determined that I had broken a rib. (I was lucky it was not more.) 4.The car was later declared “totaled” by the insurance company. By -standers immediately called the police. 1.The police officer confirmed that the car was in park, at the time of the accident. 2.The officer also confirmed with witnesses that the car was in park but was still moving ahead. 3.The officer recorded the witnesses’ names and contacts. 4.I have a copy of the police report, Before the accident, both my husband and I had noticed that the car had a tendency to jump ahead even after putting it in park. Since that time I have connected with other Rav4 owners on social media and have discovered that this “ jumping ahead” has been experience by a lot of other owners. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | STEERING | I drove my car to work on 8/6/2022 at 1pm. Everythings were ok. At 10:30pm I started the engine. Put in gear and started to go I felt there is no power steering at all. It was so hard to turn. I left engine running and walk out make sure all the tires inflated. I went back to the car still no power steering. I tried to drive home without power steering assist. There was no warning lights. It took 20 min on freeway to drive home and still no power steering. If I turn on LTA then I will show LTA malfunction | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |