The Lemon Index2020 Toyota RAV4.
The 2020 Toyota RAV4 is about average by owner complaints: 357 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 88, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about fuel or ev drive system, it has 6 recalls, and it gets 27 to 40 mpg combined. The best Toyota RAV4 year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2019–2025 Toyota RAV4, 45.9M views. The 2020 is the same RAV4.
- Infotainment, battery & electrical1.4M views
2019 - 2023 Toyota RAV4 Key Fob Battery Replacement - EASY DIYKey Fob Rob · 864K views · 4 videos - Oil changes & service848K views
Oil Change on 2019-2025 Toyota RAV4 plus a few extra tips you should know!Throttle-On John · 430K views · 3 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring445K views
Quick & Easy - Reset Toyota RAV4 Maintenance Required Oil Light (2019 - 2024)Blu-TSX · 445K views - Brakes & ABS419K views
Toyota RAV4 (2019-2025): How To Replace Front Brake Pads And Rotors In The Gen 5 Toyota RAV4?Morozov Automotive · 252K views · 2 videos
Show 3 more
- Windows, doors & mirrors397K views
Toyota RAV4 (2019-2025): How To Open Gas / Fuel Tank Door?Morozov Automotive · 250K views · 2 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door341K views
Toyota RAV4 (2019-2025): Cabin Air Filter Replacement. Easy DIY!Morozov Automotive · 341K views - Fuel pump, filter & tank285K views
Toyota RAV4 (2019-2025): How To Unlock Stuck Gas Tank Door?Morozov Automotive · 285K views
Before you buy, watch
Should you buy the latest Toyota RAV4 2019-2021?The Car Care Nut · 1.0M views
5 Most Common Problems of the Toyota Rav4 2019-2025Carnivauto · 434K views
Toyota RAV4 SUV 2020 in-depth review - CarbuyerCarbuyer · 298K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 648 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Toyota RAV4 year. 2020 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 0K to 12K miles on the car (201 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 0K–41K miles
- electrical complaints mostly came at 1K–9K miles
- fuel or ev drive system complaints mostly came at 0K–1K miles
Recalls 6
- airbags 2023
A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
- airbags 2020
Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of…
- fuel system, gasoline 2020
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Show all 6 recalls
- steering 2020
Water may enter through the steering gear box cover and cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
- suspension 2020
The front lower suspension arms may have cracks, which may result in the suspension arm separating from the front wheel assembly.
- engine 2020
Porosity in the engine castings may result in cracks than can allow coolant to leak internally and/or externally.
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 304 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and life
- Currently under investigation
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota RAV4 SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota RAV4 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota RAV4 HYBRID SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $1600–2400 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Attempted to fill the fuel tank on 2020 RAV4 hybrid which reflected that is was below 1/4 full, but was only able to put in 7 gal which obviously did not reflect a full tank (14.5gal)
2020 Toyota RAV4 owner · NHTSA complaint 11317143
More owner reports
Engine bypass valve sensor is faulty. Many users have reported this past 40k miles on RAV4 2019-2021
NHTSA complaint 11558462
Two days of not driving and no power to car brought to dealership they said I was dreaming of things and bought it home then two days later it happen again
NHTSA complaint 11342854
Quick answers
Is the 2020 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.1× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 88; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Toyota RAV4 year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2020 Toyota RAV4 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are fuel or ev drive system (24%), electrical (22%) and engine (21%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 Toyota RAV4 have?
6 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Toyota RAV4 get?
27 to 40 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 Toyota RAV4 safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 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 2020 Toyota RAV4 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 500 and 12,000 miles. The middle report was at 3,000 miles, from 201 complaints.
Does the 2020 Toyota RAV4 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 5% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2020 Toyota RAV4 cost in fuel a year?
About $1600 to $2400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2020 Toyota RAV4 have?
2.5L 4-cyl.
What Toyota RAV4 year is better than the 2020?
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