UsedScore

2022 Toyota RAV4: Too new to judge

The 2022 Toyota RAV4 has been on the road for 59 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 171 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 0.5× the rate other RAV4 years drew in their first 59 months, per vehicle sold.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the electrical system (27% of complaints).

Complaint index
0.5×
partial: first 59 months
Rank
Not ranked
rated after five years
Complaints
171
in 59 months so far
Recalls
3
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. Electrical27% · 46 complaints
  2. Air bags6% · 11 complaints
  3. Engine17% · 29 complaints
  4. Brakes7% · 12 complaints
  5. Steering12% · 20 complaints
  6. Driver assistance11% · 18 complaints · median 31,000 miles
  7. Body and structure13% · 22 complaints · median 19,000 miles
  8. Powertrain8% · 14 complaints
  9. Speed control4% · 7 complaints
  10. Seats and belts3% · 5 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

Several RAV4 owners report air bags that did not deploy during real collisions, sometimes resulting in injury, while others describe sudden unexplained deployment. Dealers reportedly found no applicable recall or clear cause when owners sought answers.

Warning signs:
Most report no warning lights before impact, though one owner saw tire pressure and traction control lights flicker on and off before the crash.
What shops did:
Some owners say dealers found no related recall and could not diagnose the air bag failure; vehicles were often towed and totaled by insurance.

“Airbag did not deploy but it did pop up from steringwheel and there is powder present.”

“The airbags did not deploy from impact and yet the car is totaled the hood started through the safety glass of the windshield.”

Electrical

Owners of this RAV4 describe the vehicle unexpectedly stalling or losing power steering, frequently in rainy weather, along with other electrical glitches like dead batteries and blank infotainment screens. Many say dealers found no fault codes and could not reproduce the failure, leaving them unsure if or when it might happen again.

Warning signs:
Owners report shaking or jerking of the engine, dashboard warnings such as "Engine Stopped, Steering Power Low," battery or check-engine lights, and stalling, often starting during or shortly after driving in rain.
What shops did:
Dealers often could not find diagnostic codes or replicate the problem, sometimes replacing 12V batteries, infotainment units, or sensors, and some owners were told to wait for recall parts.

“received a warning of "engine stopped. steering power low". Trying to restart the car - it would start up then immediately shut down w/ the same error.”

“The 12v battery keeps dying. The dealer has checked it multiple times and finally replaced it with a new one which has now died twice.”

Engine

Many 2022 RAV4 owners describe the engine stalling out, often in or after rain, with a warning about low steering power and sometimes shaking or rough idling beforehand. Dealers often can't find a cause, leaving owners uneasy about the car restarting reliably, though a handful of related repairs (sensors, valves) have been reported.

Warning signs:
Owners report the car shaking, jerking, or the RPM fluctuating just before the engine shuts off, sometimes with the check engine or battery light on.
What shops did:
Dealers frequently could not find diagnostic codes or replicate the problem, though a few owners had parts like the camshaft sensor, coolant bypass valve, or exhaust valve lash adjuster replaced.

“Idling, received a warning of "engine stopped. steering power low".”

“the automatic engine shutoff feature activated while I was waiting to pick somebody up”

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

Recalls (3)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • 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 22V519000July 20223,533 vehicles

    Air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Rav4, Rav4 Hybrid, and Rav4 Prime vehicles. The front passenger seat may have been assembled with interference between internal parts that may cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor to incorrectly detect the occupant. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk: Incorrect detection of an occupant may result in improper air bag deployment during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat, as necessary, 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.

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 228 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2022 RAV4. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 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-0051-26 · August 2026This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high voltage (HV) Ni-MH and Li-ion batteries.
  • T-SB-0110-20 Rev2 · August 2026OBSOLETE NOTICE August 20, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete.
  • 26TC03 · August 2026In wet conditions, water contacting the radiator in the subject vehicles after idling for an extended period can create steam that can cause an incorrect engine sensor reading.
  • T-SB-0023-26 · April 2026Some customers may experience a rough running engine with a MIL ON P140018 DTC.
  • T-SB-0104-21 Rev2 · February 2026OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
  • 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,…

All 2022 RAV4 bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2022 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
The 2022 Toyota RAV4 has been on the road for 59 months, short of the five years we need to rate it. Owners have filed 171 complaints with NHTSA so far. That's 0.5× the rate other RAV4 years drew in their first 59 months, per vehicle sold. 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 2022 RAV4 problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the electrical system (27%), the air bags (6%) and the engine (17%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2022 Toyota RAV4 been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2022 Toyota RAV4, the most recent in July 2023 (electrical system). 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 2022 Toyota RAV4 on NHTSA.gov · How we rate