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2017 Toyota RAV4: engine and transmission complaints

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
21%
54 of 254 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2017 Toyota RAV4. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 21% of relevant complaints.

Better than 85% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 52 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 18%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
54
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
306
this model year
Fires reported
24
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
33 crashes · 28 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM107 · 35%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER62 · 20%
SERVICE BRAKES37 · 12%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING32 · 10%
ENGINE31 · 10%
AIR BAGS20 · 7%

The years either side

2010
20%
72 of 400
2011
27%
66 of 287
2012
22%
46 of 266
2013
27%
64 of 256
2014
28%
50 of 197
2015
26%
73 of 303
2016
20%
38 of 238
2017
21%
54 of 306
2018
21%
61 of 330
2019
62%
507 of 876
2020
52%
302 of 633
2021
27%
92 of 481
2022
29%
44 of 165
2023
22%
44 of 215

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSI01/23/2024FIRECRASH2 INJURED
This vehicle was involved in a T-Bone crash, where the battery came out and the vehicle caught fire. The driver of this vehicle died at the scene. This involves NHTSA recall number 23V734 & Manufacturer Recall number 23TB13.
STEERING,ENGINE05/20/2022CRASH1 INJURED
The driver owned a 2017 Toyota Rav4. The contact called on behalf of her son who was driving approximately 35 MPH when he lost control of the steering due to the functionality of the steering wheel and accidentally crashed into a pole. There were no warning lights. The 2 front and 1 side air bag deployed. The police an…
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE03/26/2026FIRE
Yesterday March 25th 2026 I went to work and parked my 2017 Toyota RAV4 and about 30minutes later it was on fire in the parking lot. The fire happened around the battery area

Three of 54 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (3)

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor m…
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Pri…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2017 Toyota RAV4

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.