Toyota RAV4: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Toyota RAV4 problems by model year, from 4,975 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2019 (62%, 509 drivetrain complaints) and 2020 (52%, 303 drivetrain complaints). 2 of the 14 Toyota RAV4 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2016 (20%), 2010 (20%) and 2023 (21%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2018 (21%) to 2019 (62%), up 41 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2019 drew the most drivetrain complaints (509 of 1,517 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Toyota RAV4 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 RAV4 | no elevated signal | 20% | 72 | 400 | 13/14 | 14 |
| 2011 RAV4 | no elevated signal | 27% | 66 | 287 | 5/14 | 11 |
| 2012 RAV4 | no elevated signal | 22% | 46 | 266 | 9/14 | 5 |
| 2013 RAV4 | no elevated signal | 27% | 64 | 256 | 6/14 | 2 |
| 2014 RAV4 | no elevated signal | 28% | 50 | 197 | 4/14 | 4 |
| 2015 RAV4 | no elevated signal | 26% | 73 | 305 | 8/14 | 4 |
| 2016 RAV4 | no elevated signal | 20% | 38 | 239 | 14/14 | 3 |
| 2017 RAV4 | no elevated signal | 21% | 54 | 307 | 10/14 | 3 |
| 2018 RAV4 | no elevated signal | 21% | 61 | 331 | 11/14 | 3 |
| 2019 RAV4 | very high | 62% | 509 | 879 | 1/14 | 7 |
| 2020 RAV4 | high | 52% | 303 | 635 | 2/14 | 6 |
| 2021 RAV4 | no elevated signal | 26% | 93 | 486 | 7/14 | 5 |
| 2022 RAV4 | no elevated signal | 29% | 44 | 166 | 3/14 | 3 |
| 2023 RAV4 | no elevated signal | 21% | 44 | 221 | 12/14 | 3 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Toyota RAV4 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Toyota RAV4 engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Toyota RAV4 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 41 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2020 | 20V064000 | engine and engine cooling | 2019–2020 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V682000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019–2020 |
39 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2010 | 10V017000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2010 |
| Feb 2010 | 10V035000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Feb 2010 | 10V036000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010 |
| Feb 2011 | 11V113000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2010 |
| Feb 2012 | 12V029000 | air bags: side/window | 2011 |
| Aug 2012 | 12V373000 | suspension: rear | 2010–2011 |
| Jan 2013 | 13V014000 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2010–2012 |
| Apr 2013 | 13V123000 | equipment: other: labels | 2010–2012 |
| Aug 2013 | 13V383000 | suspension: rear | 2010–2011 |
| Feb 2014 | 14V054000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2012 |
| Nov 2014 | 14V743000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010–2011 |
| Dec 2014 | 14V828000 | equipment | 2014–2015 |
| Jan 2015 | 15V011000 | trailer hitches | 2013–2015 |
| Mar 2015 | 15V144000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2014–2015 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V577000 | visibility/wiper | 2010–2012 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V689000 | visibility: power window devices and controls | 2010–2011 |
| Feb 2016 | 16V096000 | seat belts: rear/other | 2010–2012 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V198000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2016 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V236000 | tires | 2016 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V396000 | seats: front assembly: seat heater/cooler | 2010–2011 |
| Aug 2016 | 16V596000 | suspension: rear | 2010–2011 |
| May 2017 | 17V295000 | tires: temporary/emergency spare tire | 2017 |
| Dec 2017 | 17V831000 | equipment: other: labels | 2018 |
| Mar 2019 | 19V244000 | equipment: other: labels | 2019 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V503000 | equipment: other: labels | 2017–2019 |
| Aug 2019 | 19V576000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019 |
| May 2020 | 20V286000 | suspension: front: control arm: lower arm | 2019–2020 |
| Jun 2020 | 20V373000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2019–2020 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V698000 | exterior lighting: headlights | 2021 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V734000 | air bags: frontal | 2020 |
| Apr 2022 | 22V239000 | electronic stability control (esc): control module: software | 2021–2022 |
| Jul 2022 | 22V519000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2022 |
| Feb 2023 | 23V041000 | electrical system: propulsion system: hybrid management: power control unit/module (hpcu) | 2021 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V485000 | tires: valve | 2023 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V478000 | electrical system: propulsion system: dc/dc converter | 2021–2022 |
| Nov 2023 | 23V734000 | electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery | 2013–2018 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V865000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2020–2021 |
| Sep 2025 | 25V595000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2023 |
| Oct 2025 | 25V744000 | back over prevention: display function | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Toyota RAV4
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Toyota RAV4
What are the worst years for the Toyota RAV4?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Toyota RAV4 years are the 2019 (62% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2020 (52% of relevant complaints, high). 2 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Toyota RAV4?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Toyota RAV4 years are the 2016 (20%), the 2010 (20%) and the 2023 (21%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Toyota RAV4 have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 1,517 of 4,368 relevant NHTSA complaints (35%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2019 and 2020.
Is the Toyota RAV4 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 2 of 14 Toyota RAV4 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 12 do not. Pooled across those years, 35% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Toyota RAV4?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Toyota RAV4 years we track, out of 41 in total: 20V064000 (Feb 2020, 2019–2020), 20V682000 (Nov 2020, 2019–2020). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.