UsedScore

2021 Toyota RAV4: Solid

Owners filed 421 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota RAV4 in its first five years on the road, about 102 for every 100,000 sold: 1.2× the rate of a typical RAV4 year. That's close to a typical year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the air bags (29% of complaints, median 18,000 miles).

Complaint index
1.2×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical RAV4 year
Rank
10th of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
421
first five years; 102 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
5
campaigns
5th generation, 2019–2025 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2019 Toyota RAV4 LE

Photo: 2019 Toyota RAV4 LE · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Air bags29% · 124 complaints · median 18,000 miles
  2. Electrical17% · 72 complaints · median 30,000 miles
  3. Brakes9% · 36 complaints · median 13,000 miles
  4. Driver assistance8% · 33 complaints
  5. Fuel and propulsion10% · 40 complaints · median 1,000 miles
  6. Engine8% · 34 complaints
  7. Seats and belts5% · 23 complaints
  8. Steering4% · 17 complaints · median 1,000 miles
  9. Visibility7% · 28 complaints · median 26,000 miles
  10. Speed control2% · 10 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Air bags

Many owners describe collisions in which their RAV4's air bags did not deploy, sometimes resulting in injuries. Many others report being notified of a passenger air bag recall but told by dealers that parts and a repair were not yet available, in some cases for well over a year.

Warning signs:
Some report warning lights (air bag, SRS, OCS, seat belt) illuminating or beeping before or after a crash, though many say no warning lights appeared at all.
What shops did:
Dealers often confirmed a recall existed but told owners replacement parts were not yet available, leaving vehicles undiagnosed or unrepaired; a few had sensors replaced or received loaner cars.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 40,000 miles, among 23 complaints that give it

“My (driver) airbag did not deploy, and my head struck the steering wheel.”

Brakes

Owners of this RAV4 describe brakes that intermittently lose stopping power, especially over bumps or wet pavement, sometimes accompanied by sudden acceleration or a brake-failure warning. Many say dealers couldn't reproduce or fix the problem, leaving them unsure the issue was resolved.

Warning signs:
Some report an ABS or brake-malfunction warning light, a grinding or seal-like noise, a momentary pedal release feeling, or no warning at all before the brakes failed to respond.
What shops did:
Many owners say dealers could not replicate or diagnose the issue, called it normal wear, blamed driver error, or returned the car without repair.
Mileage:
most between 5,000 and 35,000 miles, among 8 complaints that give it

“The car lurched forward and stopped slowing down. The brakes had disengaged on all wheels. After approximately 2 seconds, the car started braking again”

Electrical

Owners of this RAV4 report a range of electrical glitches, from stalling with steering or hybrid warnings to charging-system faults on the Prime, sometimes tied to a recall for the DC-DC converter or wiring corrosion. Several say dealers could not find the cause or lacked recall parts for extended periods, leaving them uncertain about the vehicle's reliability.

Warning signs:
Many report dashboard warning messages (power steering, hybrid system, charging system malfunction), flickering or dim instrument panels, and door locks or tailgates failing intermittently before the vehicle loses power or stalls.
What shops did:
Some owners say dealers replaced a battery or wiring harness, but many report the shop could not duplicate the fault, and Prime owners say the recall part for the charging system was repeatedly unavailable for months.
Mileage:
most between 0 and 40,000 miles, among 7 complaints that give it

“it has randomly been shutting off with the notice: Power Steering Voltage Abnormality”

“This only happens whenever the Start/Stop function is active so the engine is stopped while not moving”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (5)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 23V865000December 2023999,901 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.

    Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 23V478000July 202343,442 vehicles

    Electrical system: propulsion system: dc/dc converter

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2022 RAV4 Prime and 2022 Lexus NX450h+ plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles. The electric current rectifying module contained within the DC-DC converter may have been damaged during production, which can result in an electrical short-circuit.

    Risk: A short circuit can cause the DC-DC converter to overheat, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

    Fix: Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles when the ambient air temperature is below or expected to drop below 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius).

  • NHTSA 23V041000February 202316,679 vehicles

    Electrical system: propulsion system: hybrid management: power control unit/module (HPCU)

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021 RAV4 Prime Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. During certain cold weather driving conditions, while driving in EV Mode, the hybrid vehicle control engine control unit (HEV ECU) software may cause the hybrid system to shut down if the accelerator is rapidly pressed to further accelerate the vehicle, resulting in a stall.

    Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will update the HEV ECU software, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 22V239000April 2022458,110 vehicles

    Electronic stability control (ESC): control module: software

    Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

    Risk: Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 20V698000November 2020413 vehicles

    Exterior lighting: headlights

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021 RAV4 Prime vehicles. The headlight aiming caps may have been improperly closed, allowing for horizontal adjustment of the headlight beam. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk: Adjusting the horizontal headlight beam can increase glare, reducing the visibility of an oncoming driver or the vehicle operator, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will close the aiming caps on the headlights, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Toyota sent NHTSA 308 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2021 RAV4. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 24TE04 · August 2026 · Warranty extensionAlthough the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience.
  • 22TE09 · May 2026 · Warranty extensionAlthough the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about…
  • T-SB-0106-22 Rev2 · January 2026OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete.
  • T-SB-0001-26 · January 2026Some 2018 – 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with a Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation System require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest,…
  • T-TT-0797-26 · January 2026Some RAV4 vehicles power seat where the automatic seat adjustment by the memory function does not work.
  • 25TD01 · September 2025The subject vehicles are equipped with a rear motor unit and an HV Floor Under Wire that provide high voltage to operate the motor.
  • T-SB-0010-24 Rev2 · June 2025Some 2021 – 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 – 2024 Camry, 2019 – 2025 model year Corolla, 2022 – 2025 model year Corolla Cross, and 2019 – 2025 model year RAV4 vehicles with A25A-FKS and M20A-FKS…
  • T-SB-0058-23 Rev1 · June 2025The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks.

All 2021 RAV4 bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2021 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
Owners filed 421 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota RAV4 in its first five years on the road, about 102 for every 100,000 sold: 1.2× the rate of a typical RAV4 year. That's close to a typical year. Ratings compare RAV4 years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2021 RAV4 problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the air bags (29%), the electrical system (17%) and the brakes (9%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2021 Toyota RAV4 been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2021 Toyota RAV4, the most recent in December 2023 (air bags). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Toyota. The 2021 Toyota RAV4 on NHTSA.gov · How we rate