2018 Toyota RAV4 problems and recalls

Owners have filed 330 complaints on the 2018 Toyota RAV4, and NHTSA has issued 3 recalls. The most cited component is the Electrical System (129 complaints).

330
Complaints
3
Recalls
31
Crash reports
32
Fire reports
18
Injuries
121.2
Severity index

Severity index 121.2 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 121.2p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 3 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 98% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 129 complaints (39.1%)129 39%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 69 complaints (20.9%)69 21%EngineEngine: 32 complaints (9.7%)32 10%Service BrakesService Brakes: 30 complaints (9.1%)30 9%Power TrainPower Train: 26 complaints (7.9%)26 8%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 23 complaints (7.0%)23 7%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 20 complaints (6.1%)20 6%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 17 complaints (5.2%)17 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM12939.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6920.9%
ENGINE329.7%
SERVICE BRAKES309.1%
POWER TRAIN267.9%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING237.0%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL206.1%
VISIBILITY/WIPER175.2%

Complaints filed per year

028562017: 22018: 302019: 472020: 312021: 422022: 272023: 342024: 452025: 562026: 16 (partial year)1718192021222324255626
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20172
201830
201947
202031
202142
202227
202334
202445
202556
2026 (year to date)16
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (135 against 100).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V50300028/06/2019EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSSoutheast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply
17V83100020/12/2017EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As
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 2026-08-08. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.