2013 Toyota RAV4 problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2013 Toyota RAV4 include 1 fatality report, 22 crashes and 29 fires across 256 filings.

256
Complaints
2
Recalls
22
Crash reports
29
Fire reports
15
Injuries
135.7
Severity index

Severity index 135.7 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 135.7p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 5 of 145 by severity index among 2013 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 97% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2013 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 74 complaints (28.9%)74 29%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 40 complaints (15.6%)40 16%EngineEngine: 29 complaints (11.3%)29 11%Power TrainPower Train: 29 complaints (11.3%)29 11%StructureStructure: 28 complaints (10.9%)28 11%Service BrakesService Brakes: 23 complaints (9.0%)23 9%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 17 complaints (6.6%)17 7%Air BagsAir Bags: 13 complaints (5.1%)13 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7428.9%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4015.6%
ENGINE2911.3%
POWER TRAIN2911.3%
STRUCTURE2810.9%
SERVICE BRAKES239.0%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL176.6%
AIR BAGS135.1%

Complaints filed per year

020392013: 392014: 302015: 272016: 172017: 142018: 122019: 172020: 132021: 182022: 142023: 112024: 232025: 142026: 7 (partial year)133914151617181920212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
201339
201430
201527
201617
201714
201812
201917
202013
202118
202214
202311
202423
202514
2026 (year to date)7
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (48 against 45).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
15V01100016/01/2015TRAILER HITCHESSoutheast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short
23V73400001/11/2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERYToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.

Other Toyota RAV4 model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 14 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-27. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.