Complaint volume
369 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
2021 Toyota RAV4 Complaints
369 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Toyota RAV4, grouped by component category.
369 Total complaints
45 Crash reports
7 Fire reports
28 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 air bags, unknown or other, structure. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 45 crash reports, 7 fire reports, 28 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 70 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 24,888 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to air bags, unknown or other, structure?
- 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 2021 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.
2021 Toyota RAV4
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Toyota RAV4 complaints?
45 Crash
7 Fire
28 Injury
0 Fatality
36 Towed
25 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Toyota RAV4 complaint categories?
AIR BAGS 106
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 44
STRUCTURE 14
ENGINE 13
SEATS 13
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 11
VISIBILITY 10
VISIBILITY/WIPER 10
SERVICE BRAKES 9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8
369 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2021 | AIR BAGS | IN A 4 CAR PILE UP. HIT IN REAR X2 BY A LARGE VAN WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC ON NJ PARKWAY FOOT ON BREAK AND PUSHED INTO CAR IN FRONT OF ME X2. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 3 Towed Medical attention | 300 |
| Mar 2021 | POWER TRAIN | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE GEAR SHIFTER DISENGAGED, PREVENTING THE CONTACT FROM SHIFTING GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TOYOTA OF DEERFIELD BEACH (1441 S FEDERAL HWY, DEERFIELD BEACH, FL 33441) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, NOTHING WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Mar 2021 | POWER TRAIN | TL* THE CONTACT RECEIVED A 2021 TOYOTA RAV4 AS A LOANER VEHICLE FROM SERRA TOYOTA (1300 CENTER POINT PKWY, BIRMINGHAM, AL 35215) AS HIS PERSONAL VEHICLE WAS AWAITING REMEDY REPAIRS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V682000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE LOANER VEHICLE AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHILE ACCELERATING. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO OTHER LOANER VEHICLE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER AND A CASE FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,935. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,935 |
| Mar 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THERE IS A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND THE DOOR IS SWUNG CLOSED. THE REARVIEW MIRROR OF THE DOOR HAS SIGNIFICANT SHAKING WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, SO THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE SPEAKER IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR MAKES A STATIC OR CRACKLING SOUND WHEN MUSIC IS OFF. | Crash: No Fire: No | 70 |
| Mar 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | CAR HAD A LOW FUEL INDICATOR ON (APPROX. 15MILES DISTANCE TO EMPTY LEFT ON A DASHBOARD). UPON REFUELING, THE CAR ONLY TOOK ABOUT 11.38 GALLON OF FUEL TO REFILL THE EMPTY TANK. THIS IS VERY ANNOYING AS I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW THINKING IT HAS 14.5 GALLON FUEL TANK CAPACITY BUT IN REALITY IT HAS A DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK AND IT ONLY TAKES ABOUT 11 GALLON OF FUEL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 905 |
| Mar 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | THE GAS TANK OF 2021 RAV4 HYBRID DOES NOT FILL IN AS ADVERTISED. TOYOTA ADVERTISES THAT IT CAN TAKE 14.5 GALLONS OF FUEL, HOWEVER WHEN THE FUEL LOW WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND YOU TRY TO FILL THE FULL TANK, IT NEVER TAKES MORE THAN 10 GALLONS, THUS THERE'S DISCREPANCY OF 4 GALLONS. THIS REDUCES THE CAR'S ADVERTISED RANGE FROM 550 MILES TO LESS THAN 400 MILES. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS A DESIGN MISTAKE AND DOESN'T OFFER ANY FIX. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE | VEHICLE BATTERY COMPLETELY DEAD AFTER ONLY 3 DAYS OF NOT BEING DRIVEN. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND COULD NOT BE JUMP STARTED. VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD. WIRELESS CHARGING DOES NOT CHARGE CONSISTENTLY. INTERMITTENT CONNECTION ONLY AND GETS VERY HOT. USB PHONE CONNECTION RANDOMLY DISCONNECTS AND RECONNECTS. OCCASIONALLY THE VOICE COMMAND PROMPT ON CENTER CONTROL IS ACTIVATED AND STAYS CONNECTED WHEN CONNECTING A PHONE THROUGH USB AND CANNOT EXIT TO SEE INFORMATION DISPLAY. REMOTE START FROM FOB WILL NOT WORK. LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM TOO SENSITIVE AND TAKES OVER STEERING OF CAR CAUSING COUNTERSTEERING FROM DRIVER CONTROL. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Feb 2021 | STEERING,LANE DEPARTURE | THIS VEHICLE HAS INTERMITTENT OPERATION OF ITS LANE KEEP ASSISTANCE. ONE ACTIVATED, IT REGULARLY WILL DO THE OPPOSITE OF KEEPING YOUR LANE. IT HAS RUN ME OFF THE ROAD AND ALSO INTO THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE REPORTED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE IT. I HAVE ESCALATED TO THE DEALER AS THIS HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY AND IS IN SAFE. UPON ACTIVATION OF THE LTA, IT TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL APPROX 15- 20 DEGREES AND IMMEDIATELY TAKES YOU OUT OF THE LANE. THE LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM KICKS IN AND THEN TRIES TO BRING YOU BACK AND THIS GOES ON AND ON WITH CLEARLY MARKED LANES. IF I DIDN'T APPLY QUITE A BIT OF FORCE TO PREVENT THE DEPARTURE I COULD HAVE WELL BEEN AN INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, GOING DOWN A WELL MARKED INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, NIGHT AND DAY TIME, NO RAIN OR SNOW/ICE. THE VEHICLE RECOGNIZED THE LANE DEPARTURE (BEEPS) BUT IT WAS THE VEHICLES SYSTEM THAT DROVE THE CAR OUT OF THE LANE (WITH MY HANDS ON THE WHEEL OF COURSE). A VIDEO CAN BE SHARED UPON REQUEST. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,000 |
| Feb 2021 | WHEELS | I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2021 TOYOTA RAV4. THE FIRST WEEK I OWNED IT I EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO AIR IT UP THE VALVE STEM BROKE AND THE TIRE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT. THE VALVE STEM IS ONE UNIT AND CONNECTED TO THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. I LEARNED THAT THE STEMS ARE MADE OF ALUMINUM AND SUBJECT TO BREAKING DUE TO THE SOFT METAL. TOYOTA REFUSED TO COVER THE EXPENSE SAYING IT WAS DRIVER ERROR. THE TECHNICIAN AT THE SHOP WHERE THE TIRE WAS PLUGGED TOLD ME THIS HAPPENS QUITE A BIT. I WAS SHOCKED THAT TOYOTA WOULD INSTALL SUCH CHEAP METAL ON THEIR CARS. THIS IS A ROAD HAZARD AND CAN EASILY LEAVE ONE STRANDED. MY COST WAS NEARLY $300. THE BREAKAGE WAS NOT MY FAULT. IT WAS A PROBLEM OF SOFT ALUMINUM. I BELIEVE THESE STEMS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH HIGH QUALITY STEEL. THANK YOU. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,500 |
| Feb 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | PASSENGER HEATED SIDE MIRROR CRACKED FROM COLD WEATHER. NOT IMPACTED BY ACCIDENT OR NEGLIGENCE FROM I OR SOMEONE. WHEN HEATED MIRROR WAS ON I NOTICED A CRACK APPEARING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,800 |
| Feb 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | CANNOT FILL FUEL TANK COMPLETELY FULL. HAD SOME TESTS RUN BY TOYOTA AND THEY FOUND THAT THERE WERE ONLY 12.5 GALLONS IN THE 14.5 GALLON TANK WHEN THE PUMP SHUTS OFF. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS "WITHIN THE SPEC" AND OFFERED NO FURTHER HELP. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,000 |
| Jan 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | HAVE A 2019 AMS 2021 RAV4 HYBRID XSE THAT WILL NOT FILL TO ITS 14.5 GAL CAPACITY. TOYOTA NEEDS TO MAKE A FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT HERE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND A TIMELINE ON A FIX. WITH NOTING, THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT TOOK 14 GAL ON INITIAL FILL WHEN PURCHASED, SO NOT SURE WHAT TO THINK HERE - CAN PROVIDE PHOTOS AS WELL | Crash: No Fire: No | 485 |
| Jan 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | WHEN THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON IT ONLY TAKES 10 GALLONS TO REFILL. THIS GIVES ME A RANGE OF 400 MILES ON A TANK OF FUEL. I WAS EXPECTING A RESERVE AMOUNT OF FUEL AFTER THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON TO DRIVE TO A FUEL STATION BUT ONLY USING 10 GALLONS OUT OF A 14 GALLON TANK SEEMS WRONG. | Crash: No Fire: No | 400 |
| Jan 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | THIS ISSUE HAPPENED ON 12/31/2020. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THIS EVENING. I CAME ONTO AN ONRAMP DURING MY DRIVE AND I BEGAN INCREASING MY SPEED TO 70MPH. AS I'M ACCELERATING I STARTED TO NOTICE A WHISTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE SUNROOF . I INSTANTLY ASSUMED THAT MY HUSBAND HAD ACCIDENTALLY OPENED THE SUNROOF AND HAD NOT CLOSED IT BACK UP ALL THE WAY. (WE HAVE NOT HAD THIS CAR VERY LONG AT ALL SO WE ARE STILL LEARNING WHICH BUTTONS DO WHAT.) AS I PULL BACK THE COVER I NOTICE THAT THERE ARE SHARDS OF GLASS FALLING ONTO MY LAP FROM THE SUNROOF. I WAS IN COMPLETE SHOCK AND PULLED OVER TO MAKE SURE I WAS NOT MISTAKEN. SURE ENOUGH THE SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED AND THERE WAS GLASS EVERYWHERE. I HAVE NO WAY OF EXPLAINING HOW THIS HAPPENED AND I AM VERY FRUSTRATED THAT I HAVE TO MAKE A CLAIM ON A CAR I HAVE HAD FOR MAYBE A MONTH AND A HALF AND EVEN MORE UPSET THAT I CANNOT EXPLAIN HOW THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED. I WAS ALSO SURPRISED THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE SUNROOF! | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,241 |
| Dec 2020 | POWER TRAIN | MY SPOUSE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND SHE COMPLAINED TO ME THAT OUR NEW 2021 RAV4 SUDDENLY LURCHES WHEN SLIGHTLY ACCELERATING FROM A ROLLING STOP. I THEN DROVE WITH HER AND WITNESSED THE SAME ISSUE ALTHOUGH I COULD NOT REPLICATE IT MYSELF. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TUSTIN TOYOTA DEALERSHIP (FROM WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR) BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES OR REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THAT BEING SAID THE CARS ARE SO NEW THAT IT MAY JUST BE THAT THERE AREN'T ENOUGH NEW OWNERS YET TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25 |
| Oct 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | DRIVING NEW 2021 TOYOTA RAV4 AND THE SUNROOF BLEW OUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. | Crash: No Fire: No | 400 |
| Oct 2020 | VISIBILITY | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE GLASS SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED. DURING THE FAILURE, THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED. THE LOCAL DEALER VALLEY HIGH TOYOTA LOCATED AT 14612 VALLEY CENTER DR, VICTORVILLE, CA 92395 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,500 |
| Oct 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | BOTH SIDE MIRRORS SHAKES AT 40 MILES OR ABOVE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 45 |
| Sep 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | WITH 4 MILES LEFT ON HV RANGE/DTE, I FILLED MY FIRST FULL TANK AT COSTCO. PUMP READ 10.82 GALLONS. NOW HV RANGE IS SHOWING 544 MILES. I GOT ABOUT 39.9 MPG ON FIRST TANK (WITHOUT EV) WHICH IS IN LINE WITH EPA. BUT MY REAL HV RANGE FROM FULL TO EMPTY WAS ONLY 10.9 X 39.5 = 430 MILES. IF YOU ADD EV MILES OF 42, THEN YOU GET AROUND 472 MILES. NOT 600. THEIR MPG CLAIMS ARE VALID. BUT THEIR GAS TANK/ RANGE CLAIMS ARE CLEARLY OVERSTATED. REAL RANGE IS ONLY 472. NOT 600. WHICH IS DISAPPOINTING, YOU MIGHT GO ON A ROAD TRIP WITH YOUR FAMILY, AND BE STUCK IN MIDDLE OF NO WHERE BECAUSE THEIR RANGE CLAIMS WERE OVERSTATED. THEY MARKETED THIS TO BE CLOSE TO BEING 600 MILE RANGE. WHEN IT CAN HARDLY GO 472 WHEN GAS TANK SHOWS EMPTY. TOYOTA IS CALLOUS AND NEGLIGENT IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE SO FAR. I WAS DISSED BY MY TOYOTA DEALER FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH PRIUS PRIME. NOW RAV4 PRIME HAS HE SAME ISSUE, AND I AM HEARING THE SAME WITH RAV4 HYBRID OWNERS. YOU CAN ONLY FILL IN 10+ GALLONS. NOT 13 OR 14 GALLONS AS THEY FALSELY CLAIM. REAL RANGE OF YOUR RAV4 PRIME/HYBRID IS ONLY 470 MILES NOT 600!! | Crash: No Fire: No | 502 |