2020 TOYOTA RAV4 — Owner-Reported Problems

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-08-22 634 complaints · 6 recalls
Most-reported system: ENGINE (155 complaints · 24.5%)
Safety signals:
  • Crashes 16
  • Fires 5
  • Injuries 14
  • Deaths 0
Compare with 2019 →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Component Problem Distribution

Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)

Component Problem Distribution ENGINE appears in 155 of 634 owner complaints (24.5%) in this vehicle snapshot. ENGINE: 155 complaints, 24.5% of reports ENGINE 155 · 24.5% · 1 fire reports FUEL SYSTEM: 84 complaints, 13.3% of reports FUEL SYSTEM 84 · 13.3% ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 77 complaints, 12.2% of reports ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 77 · 12.2% · 1 crash reports 1 fire reports STRUCTURE: 50 complaints, 7.9% of reports STRUCTURE 50 · 7.9% · 1 fire reports AIR BAGS: 45 complaints, 7.1% of reports AIR BAGS 45 · 7.1% · 7 crash reports POWER TRAIN: 27 complaints, 4.3% of reports POWER TRAIN 27 · 4.3% STEERING: 23 complaints, 3.6% of reports STEERING 23 · 3.6% VISIBILITY: 13 complaints, 2.0% of reports VISIBILITY 13 · 2.0% · 1 fire reports LANE DEPARTURE: 10 complaints, 1.6% of reports LANE DEPARTURE 10 · 1.6% · 2 crash reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER: 191 complaints, 30.1% of reports UNKNOWN OR OTHER 191 · 30.1% · 6 crash reports 3 fire reports 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
ENGINE 155 24.5% 0 crashes · 1 fires
FUEL SYSTEM 84 13.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 77 12.2% 1 crashes · 1 fires
STRUCTURE 50 7.9% 0 crashes · 1 fires
AIR BAGS 45 7.1% 7 crashes · 0 fires
POWER TRAIN 27 4.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
STEERING 23 3.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
VISIBILITY 13 2.0% 0 crashes · 1 fires
LANE DEPARTURE 10 1.6% 2 crashes · 0 fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 191 30.1% 6 crashes · 3 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Problem & Recall Timeline

Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time

Problem & Recall Timeline Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2019; the first recall shown was reported in Feb 2020. 2019-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q1: 40 owner reports 40 2020-Q2: 24 owner reports 24 2020-Q3: 35 owner reports 35 2020-Q4: 49 owner reports 49 2021-Q1: 24 owner reports 24 2021-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 2021-Q3: 8 owner reports 8 2021-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2022-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2022-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2022-Q3: 14 owner reports 14 2022-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2023-Q1: 8 owner reports 8 2023-Q2: 18 owner reports 18 2023-Q3: 54 owner reports 54 2023-Q4: 28 owner reports 28 2024-Q1: 38 owner reports 38 2024-Q2: 50 owner reports 50 2024-Q3: 58 owner reports 58 2024-Q4: 30 owner reports 30 2025-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2025-Q2: 28 owner reports 28 2025-Q3: 21 owner reports 21 2025-Q4: 8 owner reports 8 2026-Q1: 11 owner reports 11 2026-Q2: 16 owner reports 16 2026-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 Owner reports Oct 2019 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 20V064000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V064000 Recall campaign 20V286000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V286000 Recall campaign 20V373000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V373000 Recall campaign 20V682000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V682000 Recall campaign 20V734000 ◆ Recall campaign 20V734000 Recall campaign 23V865000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V865000 Investigation DP22005 ● Investigation DP22005
  • Campaign 20V373000 was reported 85 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V682000 was reported 312 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 20V734000 was reported 174 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 23V865000 was reported 1,294 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2019-Q4 Owner reports 3
2020-Q1 Owner reports 40
2020-Q2 Owner reports 24
2020-Q3 Owner reports 35
2020-Q4 Owner reports 49
2021-Q1 Owner reports 24
2021-Q2 Owner reports 16
2021-Q3 Owner reports 8
2021-Q4 Owner reports 6
2022-Q1 Owner reports 11
2022-Q2 Owner reports 8
2022-Q3 Owner reports 14
2022-Q4 Owner reports 9
2023-Q1 Owner reports 8
2023-Q2 Owner reports 18
2023-Q3 Owner reports 54
2023-Q4 Owner reports 28
2024-Q1 Owner reports 38
2024-Q2 Owner reports 50
2024-Q3 Owner reports 58
2024-Q4 Owner reports 30
2025-Q1 Owner reports 15
2025-Q2 Owner reports 28
2025-Q3 Owner reports 21
2025-Q4 Owner reports 8
2026-Q1 Owner reports 11
2026-Q2 Owner reports 16
2026-Q3 Owner reports 4
Recall campaign 1 20V064000
Recall campaign 1 20V286000
Recall campaign 1 20V373000
Recall campaign 1 20V682000
Recall campaign 1 20V734000
Recall campaign 1 23V865000
Defect investigation 1 DP22005
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-08-22 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Safety Recalls (6)

Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA

  1. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 20V064000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    A coolant leak can cause the engine to overheat and cause a vehicle stall in conventional gasoline vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, for all involved vehicles, the engine may get damaged mechanically, possibly resulting in an engine oil leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine including the engine block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 3, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA04. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA02.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 20V286000

    Report date
    Component:
    SUSPENSION
    Consequence:
    If a suspension control arm breaks, it can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower suspension arms, free of charge. This recall began August 10, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's interim numbers for this recall are 20TB08 / 20TA08.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 20V373000

    Report date
    Component:
    STEERING
    Consequence:
    A loss of power steering assist could increase steering effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear box, free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB11 / 20TA11.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 20V682000

    Report date
    Component:
    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
    Consequence:
    If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 20V734000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Manufacturer action

    Recall campaign 23V865000

    Report date
    Component:
    AIR BAGS
    Consequence:
    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 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Complaint Narrative Explorer

Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-08-21
Safety incident filters
Showing 0 of 634 complaints · page 1 of 26

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EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources