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2023 Toyota RAV4 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
21%
44 of 221 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2023 Toyota RAV4. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 21% of relevant complaints.

Better than 86% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2023 Toyota RAV4 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 44 of 221 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Toyota RAV4 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (21%). For comparison, the 2022 scores 29%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
44
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
221
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
24 crashes · 16 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM83 · 38%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER61 · 28%
STEERING28 · 13%
ENGINE24 · 11%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE24 · 11%
SERVICE BRAKES21 · 10%

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 305
2016
20%
38 of 239
2017
21%
54 of 307
2018
21%
61 of 331
2019
62%
509 of 879
2020
52%
303 of 635
2021
26%
93 of 486
2022
29%
44 of 166
2023
21%
44 of 221

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

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2023 Toyota RAV4

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES07/06/2025CRASH1 INJURED
The vehicle was a 2023 Toyota RAV4 hybrid. When the driver attempted to park the vehicle in a parking lot, it suddenly began moving forward without use of the accelerator. The driver applied the brakes but the pedal went to the floor without braking. The vehicle seemed to be moving faster than expected without use …

One of 44 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Toyota RAV4?

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2023 Toyota RAV4, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
back over prevention: display function25V744000 · Oct 2025
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall…
electrical system: instrument cluster/panel25V595000 · Sep 2025
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand…
tires: valve23V485000 · Jul 2023
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota RAV4 vehicles equipped with 17" black alloy accessory wheels. During installation of the alloy wheels, the tire valve stem may have…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2023 Toyota RAV4? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2023 Toyota RAV4

Does the 2023 Toyota RAV4 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 44 of 221 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2023 Toyota RAV4 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (21%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2023 Toyota RAV4?

No. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2023 Toyota RAV4, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Toyota RAV4 years are better?

Among the Toyota RAV4 years we track, the 2010 (20%) and the 2016 (20%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2023 (21%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2023 Toyota RAV4?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2023 Toyota RAV4 shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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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. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.