RAV4 (XA40)
NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings
Engine Reliability Ratings
2AR-FE
2.5L 4-cyl / 176 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
Known Issues
4 additional engine variants with fewer than 10 complaints not shown.
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Hybrid (HEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4
That's below the typical rate for hybrids in this dataset (median 7.0 per year). Battery & propulsion complaints are lower than peer average for this category.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 19 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Hybrid system warnings, eCVT, motor-generator, hybrid transaxle.
Low-voltage battery deaths, common on EVs and hybrids that use a 12V for accessories.
Charge port, cable, mobile connector, or session failures.
Battery fires, smoke, thermal runaway. Includes any complaint with fire reported.
Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.
Battery & propulsion recalls (2)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
Consequence: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Toyota Motor Engineering & manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Rav4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. Due to a software issue within a component of the Electric Vehicle Traction Motor Assembly, the electric propulsion motor may shift to "neutral" resulting in a possible loss of drive power.
Consequence: A loss of drive power may increase the risk of a crash.
Sample complaint excerpts
Electric Propulsion
- [2013] Note: This is a fully electric vehicle. It was made by Toyota, but the drive train (electric motor, battery, etc.) is made by Tesla. Earlier this summer (Around June 2021) while starting the vehicle from a stop, the vehicle either shifted to neutral (halfway through an intersection) or stalled. The vehicle displays a message saying "Check EV System". We have since taken it to two Toyota dealersh
- [2014] 2014 Toyota Rav 4 EV with 30,898 miles, the vehicle has full power but no start. towed vehicle to Toyota Dealership for dianostic it was checked with a scan tool and found code U0293, this set the code for lost communication with the EV control system. A special cable was bought to communicate with the vehicle root cause of problem is Traction Motor bad need replaced and service plug at top of bat
- [2014] THIS IS REGARDING RAV4EV - ELECTRIC CAR. I HAD ~50MILES LEFT ON THE BATTERY AND YET I LOST TRACTION MIDDLE OF THE ROAD A MONTH AGO. RADIO AND ALL OTHER THINGS WERE FINE. I HAD THE DASHBOARD SAY "CHECK EV SYSTEM". I HAD TO PULL OVER AND THANKFULLY I WAS ON THE RIGHT MOST LANE WHEN IT HAPPENED. SO I CALLED SOS AND HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO THE SERVICE CENTER. THEY REPLACED DRIVE UNIT, TRACTION MOTOR
Hybrid Drivetrain
- [2017] WHEN STARTING AND PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT AND TURNING, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED IN A SUBURBAN SETTING. NO HYBRID BATTERY POWER OR GAS POWER WAS AVAILABLE. ALL DASH BOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS WAS SUDDEN AND THERE WAS NO HESITATION ON ACCELERATION OR INDICATIONS OF PROBLEMS PRIOR. IN TRAFFIC, HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART IT. WORKED OK AFTER THAT. THE CAR HAS 29,000 MILES AND IS SERV
- [2018] I was driving my car through the mountains on a very hot day. The speed limits are 65-70mph. After driving for a couple of hours, a warning light/message appeared: Hybrid system overheated Reduced output power The car began to have trouble maintaining speed. At one point I had to pull over and wait a while because the car became unresponsive to the accelerator. After waiting a bit, I was able
- [2018] 2018 hybrid battery does not hold charge. Sometimes the battery dies even where it should be fully charged and driving. Drove 5 hours straight on 7/10. Does on the highway. The car battery has been dying almost from day 1 . This car is only 2 1/2 and only 20, 000 miles .
12V Auxiliary Battery
- [2013] Note: This is a fully electric vehicle. It was made by Toyota, but the drive train (electric motor, battery, etc.) is made by Tesla. Earlier this summer (Around June 2021) while starting the vehicle from a stop, the vehicle either shifted to neutral (halfway through an intersection) or stalled. The vehicle displays a message saying "Check EV System". We have since taken it to two Toyota dealersh
- [2018] The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start. The contact recharged the vehicle and the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was taken to Toyo Cars, where it was diagnosed with an auxiliary battery failure. The dealer was contacted to order the part, but the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of th
Charging System
- [2014] WAS DRIVING IN CITY AT ABOUT 30 MPH , CAR STOPPED HAVING PROPULSION, STOPPED WITH A SHUDDER AND WARNINGS LIGHTS POP UP. "CHECK EV SYSTEM" WAS ABLE TO RESET THE COMPUTER BY POWERING OFF/ON FOR 3 CYCLES TO MAKE IT OVER TO THE CURB. CALLED TOW TO TRANSPORT TO THE DEALER. SEND ME AWAY AFTER RESETTING THE ERROR MESSAGE IN THE COMPUTER. WEEK LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. NOW TOY
- [2017] The contact owns a 2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while the vehicle was being charged, the battery intermittently failed to charge. As a result, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that unknown warning lights were illuminated but turned off after the battery was on charge mode. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the cause of the failure co
Thermal Events
- [2018] My 2018 RAV4 caught fire and completely burned in a matter of minutes. I was sitting in traffic that had stalled because of road construction when I first smelled something hot. No dashboard lights or gauges indicated any issues. Then I saw smoke coming from underneath the hood. I immediately pulled the car over to the shoulder and got out to look under the hood. Flames already visible and fire t
High-Voltage Battery
- [2018] The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start. The contact recharged the vehicle and the vehicle restarted. The vehicle was taken to Toyo Cars, where it was diagnosed with an auxiliary battery failure. The dealer was contacted to order the part, but the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of th
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN — high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.
Vehicle-Level Issues
These issues affect the Toyota RAV4 regardless of engine variant.
Recalls (9)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 30, 2015, to February 3, 2016, 2016 Lexus RX350 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2015, to February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed. The accessory attaching fasteners were not tightened with the proper torque, possibly causing the accessory to detach from the vehicle.
All Generations
Alternatives in Compact SUV
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 problems?
The 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 has accumulated 2,117 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Electrical System, Engine, Brakes. As with any used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection and vehicle history report are recommended.
Which Toyota RAV4 engine is most reliable?
The 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 was offered with 5 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2.5L 4-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.
Is the 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 a good used car?
The 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 2,117 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 have?
The 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 has 2,117 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.
What recalls affect the 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4?
There are 9 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.
What should I check before buying a used Toyota RAV4?
Before buying a used Toyota RAV4, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Electrical System, Engine, Brakes, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the RAV4?
The 2018 Toyota RAV4 received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 4 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 2,117 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-04-07.