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
2020 Toyota RAV4 Complaints
620 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Toyota RAV4, grouped by component category.
620 Total complaints
16 Crash reports
5 Fire reports
10 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 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 clue
Mileage is available on 191 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 14,165 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?
16 Crash
5 Fire
10 Injury
0 Fatality
15 Towed
10 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 Toyota RAV4 complaint categories?
ENGINE 119
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 78
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 69
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 62
STRUCTURE 41
AIR BAGS 39
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 20
POWER TRAIN 15
STEERING 15
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 12
620 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2024 | AIR BAGS | The contact owned a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at 55MPH, another vehicle crashed into the vehicle head-on. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact sustained a bruised chest and severe pain that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed, however, the contact was unaware of the whereabouts. The insurance company deemed the vehicle totaled. The VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags). However, a notice was received after the crash. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure was unavailable. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed Medical attention | Unknown |
| May 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Toyota RAV 4 vehicles prior to their 2023 versions are subject to CAN bus injection attacks resulting in the theft of the vehicle. I demand that Toyota provide the encryption fix to all previous years of vehicles and/or provide a physical method for protecting vulnerable spots where CAN bus attacks can occur. Methods like air gapping connections to devices accessible to the outside of the vehicle as well as better encryption for their keys. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the "Engine Maintenance Required" warning illuminated. The contact stated that the instrument cluster displayed the warning; however, all information, including the speedometer, mileage, fuel, and temperature gauge went blank. The contact stated that power was not lost and was able to continue driving to the destination. The contact stated that when the vehicle was turned off and restarted, the instrument cluster functioned as needed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had become a recurring failure and occurred at various speeds. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 48,000 |
| May 2024 | STRUCTURE | OVER A PERIOD OF TME WATER HAS BEEN COLLECTING IN THE RIGHT REAR DOOR. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE RAV4 OF THIS PARTICLE YEAR. DURING MY SEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE DRAIN HOLES AT BOTTOM OF THE DOOR UNDER A RUBBER GASKET. I LIFTED THE GASKET UP AND THERE WAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT CAME OUT. AFTER A COUPLE MORE RAINS THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED FROM AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM AND THEY STATED THAT THE GASKET ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED , BUT NOT ONLY THE RIGHT REAR DOOR BUT ALL THREE OF THE OTHER DOORS AS WELL, BUT COULD NOT EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THE WATER WAS GETTING IN THE DOORS. I HAD TO PAY OVER $500 IN ORDER TO GET THIS REPAIR WHICH I FEEL THE COST SHOULD BE ABSORBED BY TOYOTA BECAUSE A DESIGN FLAW. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | ENGINE | Engine maintenance light comes on this is not the maintenance light this morning light is not in the owner's manual I had to Google the problem to find out the answer it is a faulty coolant bypass valve my car has 47,000 miles other people have reported the same issue Toyota won't acknowledge and won't fix the problem there are complaints from many other people about this | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | ENGINE | engine maintenance required light, after much research it shows it is a common defect in 2019-2022 models. Coolant Bypass Valve malfunction or failure. This can lead to overheating/fire. Appeared at 70k, all maintenance done by certified toyota dealership | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the "Engine Maintenance Required to Visit Your Dealer" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic was performed. The contact was informed that the coolant bypass valve was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure; the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 26,643. | Crash: No Fire: No | 26,643 |
| May 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal sound of slushing water coming from inside the front driver’s side door panels. Additionally, water from the door panels had leaked into the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact that the door seals were faulty and needed to be replaced, and the drainage holes needed to be modified. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The contact was concerned that mold contamination might occur due to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 6,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,000 |
| May 2024 | ENGINE | “Engine Maintenance Required” appeared on the screen and immediately took the vehicle to my local dealership. Dealer claims “Engine coolant bypass valve” Has malfunctioned and needs to be replaced. They are charging $697.54 for the repair. After a little research online including nhtsa.gov this seems to be an extremely common issue and needs to be recalled. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | ENGINE | 2020 rav4 coolant bypass valve problem. This is an issue that is been happening in the 2019 and 2020 models even with less than 55,000 miles on it. My vehicle milage is 52,000 and now I'm having this problem and the dealer is charging $700.00 to fix the issue. I thought that Toyota vehicles were reliable but this is ridiculous. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | ENGINE | I just bought my 2020 RAV4 in November with the lifetime powertrain warranty. By April, I had a “Engine Maintenance Required” light that would not go away. I took it to the dealership and it was my coolant bypass valve. $800 later, it’s fixed. Not covered under any warranty. Very common issue that Toyota charges a lot to fix. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Coolant bypass valve | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | My 2020 Toyota Rav4 was just diagnosed with an engine coolant bypass valve failure. The leak from this valve could cause engine overheating. This seems to be a well known defective engine component that Toyota appears unwilling to address. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | ENGINE | Engine maintenance required. Found that coolant bypass valve has malfunctioned. Warranty will not cover due to being over 30k miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | ENGINE | Coolant bypass valve is faulty, coolant leaks into sensor. Coolant regulation is important for maintaining proper engine temperature and failure with this system can lead to larger engine issues, possibly leading to catastrophic engine failure. Problem verified by independent mechanic and dealer. Issue was inspected by dealer. The message “Engine Maintenance Required // Visit Your Dealer” displays on dash. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | Coolant bypass value failure 1000$ to replace on a vehicle that’s only a few years old Toyota refuses to fix it | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I began having problems with my liftgate, i would press the button either in my vehicle or on top of the liftgate and it would only go up & down a little bit and stop. I took it to the dealer and was told the hinges are bad and I had to pay almost $500 to repair! Within a few days, I had the same issue again. After doing research I saw thousands of people complaining about the same issue and fee I completely wasted my money to the dealer as its worse then ever! Also, the several of the other owners of these vehicles are stating that after they paid to repair the hinges and took vehicles back to dealer, they are being told the need a motor and thats about $3500! I would love to see a recall as I am far form the only person with this issue, I will also be calling Toyota Customer Care as I will request a fix again or a complete refund. Thank you Please contact me if you have any questions. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | My name is [XXX] and I would like to file a complaint against Toyota. I purchased my RAV4 XLE in 2020 after returning home from military training. This was my dream car and I was filled with joy to be able to purchase it. In the four years I have had it, I have had minimal issues, nothing to note other than normal wear and tear, until recently. The "Engine Maintenance Required" light came on roughly 3 weeks ago. I deemed it to be my oil change notification and reset it knowing when my next oil change was due. The notification came back on to which I started investigating further. I typed in "2020 RAV4 Engine Maintenance Required" into Google and was surprised at how many car forums and complaints popped up for this exact problem. It was an astronomical number of complaints made by loyal Toyota owners. I scrolled for an hour reading everyone's story, which was almost identical to mine. I made an appointment at my nearest Toyota in Bountiful, UT to get a diagnostic test done. Not to my surprise, the code that was tripping the system was for the 'coolant bypass valve.' I was quoted $660 for the parts and labor. After getting a price breakdown and verbally stating how frustrated I was with this issue due to how many others online had the same issue and there not being a recall, I felt like my only option was to pay it and suppress my anger. I am not upset with the Toyota dealership I went to. I am upset that this is a very known issue that even the mechanic verbally stated knowing about, and that Toyota as a large corporation is not doing right by the people who swear by owning Toyota's and their reputable reputation. I called two private mechanics about the issue and they both stated that they have worked on several RAV4's with this issue. It is not cosmetic, it is a critical issue that needs to be fixed. I hope this complaint makes it to the right hands and a solution is implemented so people can enjoy their car without these worries. Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Coolant bypass valve | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | ENGINE | Coolant bypass valve error | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4 The contact stated that while driving at approximately 50 MPH, the front windshield was struck by a small object and the contact noticed a huge crack displayed on the windshield. The contact stated that if a small object could cause a crack to the windshield, the contact was concerned about what might happen if the vehicle was involved in an accident. The contact stated that one of the children could be severely injured if ejected from the vehicle or an object could enter the vehicle through the windshield and strike the contact. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed as a severely damaged windshield. The windshield was replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred after a small objective struck the windshield and caused damages to the front windshield. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not provided. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | ENGINE | Coolant bypass valve | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | ENGINE | Coolant bypass sensor is faulty | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | ENGINE | 1. The coolant bypass valve failed. I had to pay about $950 to get it fixed because it is a safety issue and was not covered under any warranties. 2. Yes they were. The coolant bypass valve is responsible for maintaining optimal engine temperature. With this part broken it, the engine can overheat as the coolant will not circulate through the radiator. 3. Yes. The toyota dealership informed us they see an unreal amount of people with faulty coolant bypass valves. It is an issue with the part. 4. It was inspected by the Toyota dealership in Round Rock. 5. No there was nothing to indicate an issue. I only discovered the problem because I got a "engine maintenance required" warning on my dash. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES | The ABS and brake booster systems failed, and my traction control was not working as intended. Every light related to the braking system came on all at once and the ability to break became slowed, could not stop if needed to at anything other than a slow decline in speed (wouldn’t be able to go to a full stop without ample planning or control - being cut off, too close to a red light or car needing to turn, or on the highway would’ve ended in an accident). Thankfully was on surface streets both times. Problem was recurrent. Toyota dealership confirmed issue and noted loss of braking power but noted the code was intermittent and failure not definitive, hard to reproduce. Attempted to repair issue, which temporarily worked but re-occurred 1 month later. End result - needed to replace battery, stroke position sensor, brake booster with master cylinder/ABS actuator, which was almost $4,000 in repairs, with no promise it would fix the issue. No warning lamps, signs, or notable symptoms before braking failure. Battery died twice before brakes situation, but attributed to a faulty update system sending data continuously. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |