The Lemon Index2011 Toyota RAV4.
The 2011 Toyota RAV4 is better than average by owner complaints: 92 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 53, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about speed control, it has 11 recalls, and it gets 21 to 24 mpg combined. The best Toyota RAV4 year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 287 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota RAV4 year. 2011 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 15K to 80K miles on the car (192 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- speed control complaints mostly came at 10K–65K miles
- brakes complaints mostly came at 20K–64K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 45K–105K miles
Recalls 11
- suspension 2016
The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that may have been improperly tightened after servicing.
- seats 2016
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
- seat belts 2016
In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame.
Show all 11 recalls
- visibility 2015
During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
- wipers & visibility 2015
In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor.
- seats 2014
Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
- suspension 2013
If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust leading to thread damage and eventual failure.
- equipment 2013
These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight ad.
- airbags 2013
If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk…
- suspension 2012
If the nuts for adjusting the rear wheel alignment are improperly tightened during service, the rear suspension arm (rear tie rod) may develop unwanted movement and rust, leading to thread damage and eventual failure.
- airbags 2012
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 RAV4 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 24, 2011, THROUGH DECEMBER 19, 2011.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 283 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- 2009-2011 rav4
- Growl noise, due
- Growl type noise from the rear differential
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedAutoliv air bag propellant mixture2012
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota RAV4 SUV AWD | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota RAV4 SUV FWD | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2700–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
Quick answers
Is the 2011 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.9× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 53; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota RAV4 year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2011 Toyota RAV4 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are speed control (43%), brakes (22%) and transmission & drivetrain (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2011 Toyota RAV4 have?
11 safety recalls (latest: suspension). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Toyota RAV4 get?
21 to 24 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2011 Toyota RAV4 safe?
NHTSA gave it 3 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2011 Toyota RAV4 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 15,300 and 80,000 miles. The middle report was at 45,500 miles, from 192 complaints.
Does the 2011 Toyota RAV4 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 11% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2011 Toyota RAV4 cost in fuel a year?
About $2700 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2011 Toyota RAV4 have?
2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.
What Toyota RAV4 year is better than the 2011?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2022 and 2015.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works