Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2020 vs 2021 TOYOTA RAV4

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 71 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 16.4% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

2020 590 complaints 2021 493 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2020 share 2021 share Share change
ENGINE 24.5% 4.3% ▼ 20.2 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 7.1% 25.6% ▲ 18.5 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM 13.3% 6.1% ▼ 7.2 pts smaller share
STRUCTURE 7.9% 3.3% ▼ 4.6 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 2.1% 5.5% ▲ 3.4 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 1.4% 4.3% ▲ 2.8 pts larger share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1.1% 3.9% ▲ 2.8 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12.2% 9.7% ▼ 2.4 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 4.3% 2.4% ▼ 1.8 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 0.3% 1.8% ▲ 1.5 pts larger share
STEERING 3.6% 2.4% ▼ 1.2 pts smaller share
WHEELS 0.2% 1.0% ▲ 0.9 pts larger share
LANE DEPARTURE 1.6% 2.4% ▲ 0.9 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 0.2% 0.8% ▲ 0.7 pts larger share
SUSPENSION 1.4% 0.8% ▼ 0.6 pts smaller share
BACK OVER PREVENTION not reported 0.4% ▲ 0.4 pts larger share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1.1% 1.2% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 30.1% 38.1% ▲ 8.0 pts larger share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2020 6

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STEERING, and SUSPENSION

2021 5

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), and EXTERIOR LIGHTING

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
5 → 8
◆ Injuries
14 → 54