Complaint volume
620 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
620 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 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.
620 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 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.
Enriched records include 16 crash reports, 5 fire reports, 10 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage is available on 191 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 14,165 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
620 total complaints on record
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2020 | STRUCTURE | SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ON DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE VIBRATE WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND VIBRATE/SHAKE EXCESSIVELY TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50MPH. THIS REDUCES VISIBILITY AND CAUSES NAUSEA. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20 |
| Aug 2020 | SUSPENSION | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V286000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER STAPP TOYOTA LOCATED AT 8019 RASPBERRY WAY, FREDERICK, CO 80504, WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2020 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I BOUGHT A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID FOR FUEL EFFICIENCY. I'VE HAD IT NEARLY 6 MONTHS AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REALIZE ANY FUEL EFFICIENCY DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL TANK. MY GAS GAUGE WAS AT 1/4 TANK AND I REFUELED. THE PUMP STOPPED AFTER REACHING 'FULL'. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER 'FILLING UP', THE GAUGE WENT TO 3/4 TANK INSTEAD OF FULL. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE TANK, THEREFORE, I CANNOT TELL IF THE VEHICLE IS EVEN FUEL EFFICIENT. MY PREVIOUS CAR WAS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 NON-HYBRID AND I'D REFUEL EVERY 2 WEEKS AND IT HAS THE SAME SIZE FUEL TANK THAT THE 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID SUPPOSEDLY HAS (14.5 GALLONS). IT FEELS LIKE THE FUEL TANK IS HALF THAT SIZE. I'M HAVING TO REFUEL MY 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID WEEKLY TO KEEP FROM LEAVING ME STRANDED BECAUSE THE GAS GAUGE IS READING INCORRECTLY. TOYOTA NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE ASAP. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,800 |
| Aug 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | BATTERY "DIED" THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST - JUMP STARTED AND DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND THAT "SHORT DISTANCE" DRIVING CAN DRAIN THE BATTERY - SINCE I DRIVE 45 MILES A DAY TO AND FROM WORK, THAT IS NOT A VALID "EXCUSE". NOW, 3 WEEKS LATER, MY CAR WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE FOR 36 HOURS WITH NOTHING LEFT ON - AND THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DEAD. TESTED THE BATTERY MYSELF BEFORE JUMPSTARTING IT - AND IT FULL. ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY MY CAR SHOULD NOT START. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,200 |
| Aug 2020 | ENGINE | CAR BATTERY DIED AFTER ONE DAY OF SITTING WITHOUT USE. DEALER DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. BUT IT HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. TOYOTA DEALER OFFERED NO SOLUTION AND MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Aug 2020 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | CAR DOES NOT FILL UP WITH FUEL TO MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. CANNOT GET MORE THAN 10 GALLONS INTO 14.5 GALLON TANK. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | CAR BATTERY DIED AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS, LESS THAN 3,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING, I WOULD GET A MESSAGE THAT READ, "BATTERY CHARGING." DEALERSHIP REPLACED BATTERY AND 1 WEEK LATER, THE NEW BATTERY DIED. AFTER DOING A PARASITIC DRAIN TEST, THE PROBLEM WAS SOURCED TO THE DATA CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALERSHIP UPLOADED NEW SOFTWARE AND SO FAR I'VE HAD NO FURTHER ISSUES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,900 |
| Aug 2020 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | FUEL TANK IS ADVERTISED AS 14.5 GALLONS /580 MILES PER TANK. BRAND NEW VEHICLE OFF THE LOT ONLY FILLS UP TO 8 GALLONS AND GETS 420MILES PER TANK | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |
| Aug 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | SERIOUS D-CELL BATTERY DISCHARGE ISSUE. TWICE OUR NEW RAV4 HYBRID HAS HAD TO BE JUMPED AND TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A DEAD BATTERY. DEALER FOUND NOTHING FIXABLE BUT REPLACED THE BATTERY. 1ST TIME WE WERE STRANDED IN HOTEL PARKING LOT AFTER TRIP ABROAD. 2ND TIME WAS AT HOME. CARGURUS SENDS ME 5 COMPLAINTS A DAY FOR OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. VEHICLE IS NOT RELIABLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |
| Aug 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE VEHICLE HAD NO BATTERY POWER TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 36 HOURS FROM WHEN LAST DRIVEN. THIS PROBLEM POSSES A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD AS THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DISABLED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,000 |
| Aug 2020 | STEERING | THE POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR TWO HOURS (FROM NYC TO PHILADELPHIA) THEN PARALLEL PARKED ON A CITY STREET AND TURNED OFF. THE CAR WAS RESTARTED LESS THAN ONE MINUTE AFTER BEING TURNED OFF (TO IMPROVE THE PARKING JOB); THE CAR STARTED, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS, BUT THE WHEELS COULD NOT BE TURNED WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT FORCE. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR OTHER THAN A PARTIALLY DRAINED BATTERY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,400 |
| Aug 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID PURCHASED DEC 2019 BATTERY DIES AFTER CAR HAS BEEN SITTING A FEW DAYS CAR DOES NOT START HAVE TO TOW TO DEALER | Crash: No Fire: No | 13,900 |
| Aug 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | TWO DAYS OF NOT DRIVING AND NO POWER TO CAR BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAID I WAS DREAMING OF THINGS AND BOUGHT IT HOME THEN TWO DAYS LATER IT HAPPEN AGAIN | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |
| Jul 2020 | SERVICE BRAKES | WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY. IF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME GOES TO EXIT AND SLOWS DOWN. MY CAR BRAKES EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT EXITING. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT BY TWO SEMIS ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE ALSO ALMOST BEEN HIT BY A COUPLE OF CARS AS MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY BRAKED ON REGULAR ROADS WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME PULLED INTO A RIGHT HAND TURN LANE AND SLOWED DOWN NEXT TO ME. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,000 |
| Jul 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL POWER INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. AFTER RECHARGING THE BATTERY, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO GATORLAND TOYOTA LOCATED AT 2985 N. MAIN ST, GAINESVILLE, FL 32609, AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY POWER WAS DRAINED DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 48 HOURS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 970. | Crash: No Fire: No | 970 |
| Jul 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | FOR THE SECOND TIME NOW THE BATTERY IN THE BRAND NEW 2020 RAV4 XLE (HAD IT FOR LESS THAN A MONTH) WAS DRAINED WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT IN USE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, BATTERY RECHARGED AND TOLD NOTHING WRONG, NO ERROR CODES, ETC. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN NOW. CAR BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER AND I AM ASKING FOR A NEW BATTERY TO BE INSTALLED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,100 |
| Jul 2020 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | VEHICLE HAS A 14.5 USG GAS TANK AND GETS APPROXIMATELY 40MPG AS PER THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A RANGE OF APPROXIMATELY 560 MILES. AT 390 MILES, THE DISTANCE TO EMPTY DISPLAY WAS 44 MILES AND THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE WAS JUST ABOVE E. AT THE FILL UP THE PUMP KICKED OFF AT 9.6 GALLONS. WHEN TRYING TO ADD MORE GAS, THE PUNP KICKED OFF AGAIN AT 10.1 GALLONS. THE GAS GAUGE READS FULL AND THE DISTANCE TO EMPTY READS 470 MILES. I AM EITHER 4 GALLONS SHORT OF A FULL TANK OR THE GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN THERE IS 4 GALLONS REMAINING. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 4 WEEKS. A SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM AS THERE IS NO ACTUAL RECALL NOTICE. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS NO REMEDY. DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THROUGH INTERNAL MEMOS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE. THE RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IS TO LEAVE IT FOR A DAY TO BE LOOKED AT. I REALIZE THERE IS NO CURRENT FIX, BUT DEALERSHIPS SHOULD BE DOCUMENTING COMPLAINTS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 909 |
| Jul 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | BATTERY DIES WHEN NOT STARTED FOR A FEW DAYS, WITH NO DOORS LEFT OPEN OR LIGHTS LEFT ON, ETC. DEALER STATES THAT DIAGNOSTICS CAME BACK CLEAR AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY. ISSUE STILL PRESENT. VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN THE GARAGE OFF FOR 3 DAYS, WHEN WE NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,090 |
| Jul 2020 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | FUEL TANK DOES NOT FILL UP 14.5 GALLONS. IT ONLY FILLS UP ABOUT 9-10 GALLONS OF FUEL. MILEAGE RUN ON FULL TANK IS WAY WAY LESSER THAN WHAT IS ADVERTISED. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2020 | STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 MILES, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITH AND WITHOUT THE LANE ASSIST FEATURE ACTIVATED. WITHIN ANOTHER 2-4 MILES THE FAILURE WAS INDEPENDENTLY REMEDIED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DELUCA TOYOTA (1719 SW COLLEGE RD, OCALA, FL 34471, (352) 732-0770) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. *LN*JB *BF *JS | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,000 |
| Jul 2020 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | FUEL INDICATION IN CAR IS INCORRECT. WHEN FUELING TO FULL DOES NOT INDICATE FULL AND FUEL GAUGE APPEARS INCORRECT AS QUANTITY DECLINES VERY QUICKLY. NOT ABLE TO TELL FROM THE GAUGE HOW MUCH FUEL IS ACTUALLY IN THE CAR. HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS IN ALL CONDITIONS SINCE CAR PURCHASED ON 04/18/2020 | Crash: No Fire: No | 150 |
| Jul 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2020 JANUARY RAV4 XLE AWD. 2 CASES OF DEAD BATTERY. 1ST IN APRIL MILEAGE 2029, 1 WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING. 2ND IN JULY MILAGE 2896, 2 DAYS WITHOUT DRIVING. 1ST TIME; AAA JUMPED IT, TESTED BATTERY SAID IT FAILED. TOOK TO DEALER; NOTHING WRONG, BATTERY TEST GOOD. 2ND TIME; TOYOTA ROAD SERVER JUMPED IT. A SIMPLE SEARCH OF THE WEB SHOWS HUNDREDS OF THE SAME ISSUE. POSSIBLE REPORTED CAUSES; BAD BATCH OF BATTERIES, DCM FW UPDATE (TSB T-SB-0021-20 - DOESN'T APPLY TO OUR CAR), MYSTERY "SENSOR" NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, CONSTANT DATA COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN KEY FOB, POSITIONING SATELLITE OR BLUETOOTH PHONE. THIS IS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!!! PEOPLE ARE BEING STRANDED AT ANY TIME WITH A DEAD BATTERY ON CARS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD!!! | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,089 |
| Jul 2020 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | ON JULY 3, 2020 AT 2:30PM I WAS PARKING THE CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A STRIP MALL WHEN I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR BUT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE, I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AGAIN AND JERKED BACKWARDS, WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE, I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT ON ME AGAIN FOR THE 2ND TIME. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAITED FOR THE OWNER OF THE PARKED VEHICLE, THE POLICE ARRIVED ON SITE AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *LN CONSUMER STATED BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*JB | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed | 1,839 |
| Jul 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | RAV4 WAS PURCHASED FIRST WEEK OF JUNE 2020. TWO WEEKS LATER, I GO TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE BATTERY IS DEAD. I HAD IT JUMPED AND TOOK IT TO TOYOTA. THE DEALER SAID EVERYTHING WAS WORKING AS IT SHOULD. I TOOK IT HOME. THIS MORNING, THREE WEEK AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, I GO TRY TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE BATTERY IS DEAD. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO JUMP AND START THE CAR. SINCE THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED IN A MONTH, I HAD THE CAR TOW TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS. SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVER NIGHT BOTH TIMES. NO LIGHTS INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR LIGHT WERE ON. NO DOORS AJAR TO DRAW POWER. RADIO WAS TURNED OFF. BOTH FAN AND A/C WAS TURNED OFF. | Crash: No Fire: No | 863 |
| Jul 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | DEAD BATTERY AFTER 1 MONTH OF PURCHASE | Crash: No Fire: No | 500 |