All cars · Toyota RAV4 · 2021
2021 Toyota RAV4. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 4
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Auto (S8) | FWD | 27 / 35 / 30 | Regular | $2,100 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | Auto (S8) | AWD | 27 / 33 / 29 | Regular | $2,150 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | Auto (AV-S6) | AWD | 41 / 38 / 40 | Regular | $1,550 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid | Auto (AV-S6) | AWD | 40 / 36 / 38 | Regular | $1,650 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 1,700 and 44,000 miles. Median 16,000, from 82 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 30,000 | 12,000–44,000 | 23 |
| Electrical | 30,000 | 400–53,000 | 7 |
| Engine | 53,000 | 15,500–63,700 | 5 |
| Fuel or ev drive system | 700 | 500–900 | 7 |
| Brakes | 12,600 | 7,100–34,700 | 6 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Airbags | 21% |
| Electrical | 20% |
| Fuel or ev drive system | 10% |
| Brakes | 9% |
| Engine | 8% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 508 | 60 | 8 | 32 | 0 | 45 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 5
23V865000 Dec 2023 Air Bags / Sensor / Occupant Classification
Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Risk. An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Le
23V478000 Jul 2023 Electrical System / Propulsion System / Dc/Dc Converter
Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2022 RAV4 Prime and 2022 Lexus NX450h+ plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles. The electric current rectifying module contained within the DC-DC converter may have been damaged during production, which can result in an electrical short-circuit.
Risk. A short circuit can cause the DC-DC converter to overheat, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy. Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles when the ambient air temperature is below or expected to drop below 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius). Dealers will replace the DC-DC converter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB07/23LB01.
23V041000 Feb 2023 Electrical System / Propulsion System / Hybrid Management / Power Control Unit/Module (Hpcu)
Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021 RAV4 Prime Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. During certain cold weather driving conditions, while driving in EV Mode, the hybrid vehicle control engine control unit (HEV ECU) software may cause the hybrid system to shut down if the accelerator is rapidly pressed to further accelerate the vehicle, resulting in a stall.
Risk. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will update the HEV ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 27, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA01.
22V239000 Apr 2022 Electronic Stability Control (Esc) / Control Module / Software
Defect. Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Risk. Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03. Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01.
20V698000 Nov 2020 Exterior Lighting / Headlights
Defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021 RAV4 Prime vehicles. The headlight aiming caps may have been improperly closed, allowing for horizontal adjustment of the headlight beam. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Risk. Adjusting the horizontal headlight beam can increase glare, reducing the visibility of an oncoming driver or the vehicle operator, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will close the aiming caps on the headlights, free of charge. The recall began January 6, 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA15.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed | Pedestrian alert sounds | 2023 | 2023 |
Manufacturer communications 287
Toyota filed 287 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- A battery in a stored vehicle is subject to conditions that can reduce its performance and…
- Some 2020 model year Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla Hatchback, RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota RAV4 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota RAV4 SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Toyota RAV4 HYBRID SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Standard | Standard |
YouTube repair topics
100 videos about the 2019–2025 Toyota RAV4, 45.9M views.
| Topic | Videos | Views |
|---|---|---|
| Infotainment, battery & electrical | 4 | 1.4M |
| Oil changes & service | 3 | 848K |
| Gauges, lights & wiring | 1 | 445K |
| Brakes & ABS | 2 | 419K |
| Windows, doors & mirrors | 2 | 397K |
| Heat, A/C & blend door | 1 | 341K |
| Fuel pump, filter & tank | 1 | 285K |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
. Get the data