Toyota RAV4 2013–2018
4th generation (XA40)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20262,158 complaints, 1,191 with mileageMethod
On this generation, 40% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 5 times higher than during the rest of the car's life.
- First 12,000 miles — 40% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 7 complaints (0.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 320
- 25%
- 5,000
- Median
- 21,210
- 75%
- 54,968
- 90%
- 91,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 432 | 36.3% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 138 | 11.6% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 103 | 8.6% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 103 | 8.6% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 95 | 8.0% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 52 | 4.4% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 56 | 4.7% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 53 | 4.5% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 27 | 2.3% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 32 | 2.7% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 26 | 2.2% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 14 | 1.2% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 17 | 1.4% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 14 | 1.2% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 5 | 0.4% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 7 | 0.6% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 7 | 0.6% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 2,158 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013–2018 Toyota RAV4, and 1,191 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
40% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 5 times higher than during the rest of the car's life. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are the electrical system (24.3% of complaints, typically around 40,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (14.3% of complaints, typically around 26,000 miles), the engine (8.6% of complaints, typically around 37,000 miles).
9 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Electrical system40,000median 39,500 miles, middle half 7,000 to 77,000
- Problems owners could not categorise26,000median 25,500 miles, middle half 5,500 to 50,000
- Engine37,000median 37,000 miles, middle half 8,500 to 70,000
- Brakes15,000median 15,250 miles, middle half 4,500 to 36,000
- Transmission and driveline35,000median 35,000 miles, middle half 9,000 to 78,000
- Body structure17,000median 17,450 miles, middle half 2,500 to 55,000
- Steering26,000median 26,000 miles, middle half 4,500 to 91,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 525 | 24.3% | 40,000 | 7,000–77,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 309 | 14.3% | 26,000 | 5,500–50,000 |
| Engine | 185 | 8.6% | 37,000 | 8,500–70,000 |
| Brakes | 173 | 8.0% | 15,000 | 4,500–36,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 127 | 5.9% | 35,000 | 9,000–78,000 |
| Body structure | 123 | 5.7% | 17,000 | 2,500–55,000 |
| Steering | 109 | 5.1% | 26,000 | 4,500–91,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 101 | 4.7% | 7,500 | 1,000–30,000 |
| Airbag system | 95 | 4.4% | 20,000 | 6,000–40,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 89 | 4.1% | 11,000 | 3,000–26,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 21,210 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 24.3% of complaints (525 reports, 226 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 39,500 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,000 and 77,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 14.3% of complaints (309 reports, 142 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 25,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,700 and 50,109 miles.
The engine accounts for 8.6% of complaints (185 reports, 97 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 37,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 8,600 and 70,000 miles.
The brakes account for 8.0% of complaints (173 reports, 122 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 15,250 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,500 and 36,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 5.9% of complaints (127 reports, 69 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 35,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 9,000 and 78,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 5.7% of complaints (123 reports, 75 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 17,450 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,400 and 55,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2018 model year drew the most — 443 complaints — while 2014 drew the fewest at 278. The median year sits at 365.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 9 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around equipment (4), the electrical system (1), the tyres (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 2,158 complaints filed against this generation, 274 reported a crash; 248 reported a fire; 210 reported an injury; 6 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 12.7% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 40% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the electrical system and problems owners could not categorise are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 25,500, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Fuel System 2018
Denso low-pressure fuel pump impeller cracking causing stalling; the recall population extends into MY2018-2019 RAV4s.
General 2013–2018
No dominant systemic mechanical defect — this generation is the reliability high-water mark of the nameplate; complaint volume is concentrated in infotainment, HVAC and paint rather than powertrain.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 332 | 214 |
| 2014 | 278 | 147 |
| 2015 | 399 | 235 |
| 2016 | 293 | 185 |
| 2017 | 413 | 216 |
| 2018 | 443 | 194 |
Recalls (9)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 23V734000 | 2024-12-27 | Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery |
| 19V503000 | 2019-08-23 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 17V831000 | 2018-01-23 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 17V295000 | 2017-06-15 | Tires:temporary/Emergency Spare Tire |
| 16V236000 | 2016-06-03 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 16V198000 | 2016-05-04 | Electronic Stability Control (esc) |
| 15V144000 | 2015-05-07 | Steering:electric Power Assist System |
| 15V011000 | 2015-03-17 | Trailer Hitches |
| 14V828000 | 2015-02-23 | Equipment |
What owners reported
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds during the day, she was unable to see the navigation screen due to an intense glare, even on cloudy days. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was…
2013 · 6 miles · Electrical system
I have a 2013 Toyota RAV4 limited. In any significant ambient light level, the navigation screen is not visible. The glare on the screen is horrific. Notified dealership. They checked it out and confirmed that i did, indeed, have a problem. Dealership made an appointment with me to meet with a factory…
2013 · 7 miles · Electrical system
The installed navigation screen is impossible to see in the driver's normal driving position and in almost any daytime lighting condition. Glare from the screen and dashboard borders on unsafe. There is no way to safely use that item and the 12 or so functions located there without significant distraction. Because of…
2013 · 12 miles · Body structure
While accelerating from approximately 20 MPH, a jerk was felt and a noise was heard as the vehicle was shifting gears. (This vehicle is an automatic.) This same incident occurred again later the same day. However, after the second incident, the "check engine" light and the "traction control" light came on. This…
2013 · 15 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 1,191 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page