10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
309 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2020 Toyota RAV4:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

Get free help with your lemon!
close ad
problem #26

Aug 012024

RAV4

  • miles
I searched online after the Toyota dealership told me that my coolant flow control valve is failing. I became aware that it is a common issue for my 2020 Toyota Rav4. The warranty does not cover it even though it should be part of the powertrain warranty.

- Norcross, GA, USA

problem #25

Jul 312024

RAV4

  • miles
I bought the 2020 Rav4 XLE back in 2019 and had driven for four and half years now. I went to the dealership to get my routine oil change just this Monday July 29th 2024. As usual, the dealership did multi-inspection on my Rav4 and didn't find any problem that requires immediate attention. Two days later, a warning message popped up on the MID screen right after I started the car and read "Engine Maintenance Required". After searching online, calling both local mechanic and Toyota dealership, it happens to be a well-known issue for many 2019-2023 Toyota models including Rav4, Camry, Corolla that the faulty coolant bypass valve has to be replaced. I'm not a car person and I don't know much about cars but I have had the radiator broken while I was driving on my old car due to coolant related issue and almost got me into an accident so I know I shouldn't overlook any issues related to coolant. That being said, Toyota dealership knew about the issue, my local mechanic heard about the issue, an overwhelming number of users had reported the issue on online forums, and with no surprise, a class action lawsuit was filed regarding this issue on June 2024. For a solid car brand that advertises reliability and accountability for its vehicles, not informing or recalling for affected customers is extremely disappointing and unacceptable. After all, I had to pay $785 out of pocket for a repair that should never be done in less 5 years/45000 miles.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #24

Jul 132024

RAV4

  • miles
my 2020 RAV4 (48,000 miles), when I start the engine and turn on the A/C, the warning light comes on:Engine maintenance required.

- Milpitas, CA, USA

problem #23

May 252024

RAV4

  • miles
My 2020 Rav4 Limited AWD alerted me that the engine needed maintenance, and, so I parted it until Tuesday, After talking to the service professional at Passport Toyota, they told me about everything else but did not see that the light was on. They did my regular 55,000 miles maintenance on my car. So before driving away, I noticed that the alert was still blinking on my car. Their findings is that the coolant bypass valve/hose etc., has gone bad and is remaining in the open position. Apparently, this part isn't covered by warranty. After reading, there are a lot of years such as 2019, 2018 to name a few having had the same problem. And to fix the problem it is $857.22. Since this problem is occurring in a lot of Rav4's, and I noticed Camry's as well, should they look into why this is happening in a lot of models of their cars, SUV's etc.

- Suitland-Silver Hill, MD, USA

problem #22

May 162024

RAV4

  • miles
Coolant bypass valve failure. 2020 model year Vehicle has 38,000 miles with a failed coolant bypass valve.

- Oak Park, IL, USA

problem #21

Apr 042024

RAV4

  • miles
My car is 55000 Miles and coolant by pass valf is broken. it is common issue for this engine. Toyota shoul fix this issue as recall.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #20

Apr 022024

RAV4

  • miles
-??Engine maintenance required visit your dealer-?? appeared on screen. After searching for similar issues. The coolant bypass valve has malfunctioned or failed. The fact that hundreds if not thousands of others have had this issue and it has not yet been recalled coupled with the fact that this isn-??t covered under powertrain warranty is just crazy. Considering when reporting this issue I had to select powertrain that showed coolant / hoses under the menu baffles me even kore that it wouldn-??t even be considered covered under warranty. There needs to be a recall. $700+ to replace a sub $100 hose and sensor that has nothing to do with normal wear and tear.

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

problem #19

Nov 122023

RAV4

  • miles
Engine maintenance required signed popped on and wouldn-??t go away. Took it to the dealership. They say it-??s a common coolant bypass valve. Was charged a hefty amount of nearly $700

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #18

Sep 012023

RAV4

  • miles
-Inspection found coolant bypass valve seized recommendation, was to replace coolant hose with bypass valve. YES, the car is available for inspection upon any request -Safety risk unknown if not fixed -Michaels Toyota of Bellevue Washington confirmed on September 23rd 2023. I brought the car in originally on September 9th 2023 for a 10,000 mileage service and oil change. when I called to ask why the engine maintenance notice wouldn't turn off. I was scheduled to bring the car back on September 23, 2023 the needed part was not in stock nor covered by the factory or powertrain warranty with 31,2002 miles on it. The warning light came on at the same time the service and oil change was due. I was stopped a month prior by a random mechanic who noticed the car was leaking abnormal amounts of what he said could be coolant on the passengers front undercarriage. This leaking has been happening for approximately a year and I was not notified the previous 3 times the car had been in for inspections.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #17

Sep 262023

RAV4

  • miles
Engine bypass coolant Valve needs to be replaced. The Engine Maintenance required light turned On. My car only has 74k miles and a 2020 model car and this is a $900 replacement. This is quite concerning as multiple owners have reported this part failing after even 30k miles. This part needs to be recalled.

- Alexandria, VA, USA

problem #16

Aug 202023

RAV4

  • miles
Engine stalled on highway, was fortunate other drivers allowed us to get to the inside lane and on the shoulder. It bucked a couple times a few minutes earlier. A host of warning lights came on the dash. car did restart after ignition cycled off and on. Had over 1/2 tank fuel. Dash warnings that remained on CEL yellow. parking assist Radar and lane assist. Power steering seemed weak. No cruise control. Over the next 550 miles with engine shut offs during fuel stops dash warnings went out and car returned to normal. No longer trust this car with 70,000 miles.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #15

Aug 102023

RAV4

  • miles
Got an oil change Monday 8/7/23 When I left the dealership & arrived home the -??engine maintenance required-?? light came on. Contacted dealership next day (service was done at Maita Toyota of Sacramento) let them know about what happened they told me they-??d do a diagnostic on the vehicle. Car was at 43,772 miles when I dropped it back off at dealership. They ended up letting me know the diagnosis was the coolant by pass value / hoses were bad and needed to be replaced. However - Toyota would not cover the repair because of their current powertrain warranty expiring on my vehicle. After researching online this seems to be a common issue with this year of rav4. I was luck enough to have extended warranty and only had to pay a $200 deductible but had I not it would be been almost $800 I would have had to pay. Toyota should be made aware of this issue. As an overheating issue can cause dozens of other problems with the car.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #14

Jul 252023

RAV4

  • miles
The Coolant flow control valve is malfunctioning. This was diagnosed by a Toyota dealer. My car is 3 years old and has 56k miles. Upon doing more research, a lot of people have complained that the same things are happening to their vehicles as well. To my understanding, this is not something typical for a car as young as mine.

- Bartlett, TN, USA

problem #13

Jul 132023

RAV4

  • miles
$900 Coolant Valve Bypass repair at Toyota Dealership, only 32k miles on vehicle. Unbelievable. Incredibly common failure on 2020 Rav4-??s. Wouldn-??t be such an issue if the part wasn-??t built with cheap plastics

- Sterling, VA, USA

problem #12

Jun 052023

RAV4

  • miles
Only 46,000 miles and needing a Coolant Bypass Valve replacement

- Flower Mound, TX, USA

problem #11

Jun 252023

RAV4

  • miles
The Coolant Bypass Valve failed for my RAV4 at 59,210 miles. This was confirmed to me by Hoover Toyota. The part has not been inspected by the manufacture, police, insurance representatives, or any others. I had a message appear at 59,202 miles on my dashboard screen that said, "Engine Maintenance Required." I have already gotten Hoover Toyota to fix my part. My concern comes in part that reading through online forums, it appears this is a very regular/common problem for RAV4s (2019-2022) and seems to happen between 45,000 - 65,000 miles. If this is a known issue, I am curious as to why Toyota has not recalled this part since you wouldn't expect a car under 5 years old and driven less than 100,000 miles to have this kind of problem.

- Vestavia, AL, USA

problem #10

Feb 032021

RAV4

  • miles
My Toyota 2020 RAV 4 Hybrid accelerates in REVERSE when in drive mode and parked on an incline. My car ran over me on 2 occasions while outside the vehicle. Both times I pulled into my driveway, came to a complete stop, and believed I was parked and the car engine was off. Once I exited, I realized my car was still on, reached inside my car to push the off engine button, and the car IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED in reverse (while in DRIVE MODE/not REVERSE or PARK MODE), knocked me down and pulled me under the front driver side tire and ran over my legs/body. The fire dept and police arrived to transport me to UCI Trauma Center. The car accelerated so fast that it knocked me down/pulled me under/rolled over my body, then rolled down the driveway, across the street, popped the curb and landed in the neighbor-??s lawn -?" all from the force of acceleration in reverse while in DRIVE mode. This happens whenever the car is in DRIVE mode and you push the OFF button, the car accelerates in reverse when parked on an incline. This happens in parking lots as well with an incline. Toyota Service REFUSES to let me show them this product design defect and how the car accelerates in reverse while in DRIVE MODE when the "on/off" engine button is pushed off and the car is on a slight incline. It is a major hazard to the driver, passengers and community, whoever is standing outside and behind the car. Toyota REFUSES to memorialize this design problem. Our other Toyota cars require the car to be in park before you can shut it off and DO NOT accelerate in reverse when in the drive mode, only when in reverse mode. Toyota maintenance staff told me they are not allowed to memorialize the problem in writing; they won't come to my house to see what happened or let me demonstrate at their service facilities. The police officer told me he has seen this happen before, and that we were lucky no kids in the street were run over, which he said has happened before. How many others were run over?

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #9

May 012020

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 3 miles
The contact leases a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while idling at a red light, the vehicle would suddenly and unintendedly surged forward. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 3. The consumer stated she intends to purchase the vehicle and would like it to be repaired.

- River Ridge, LA, USA

problem #8

Feb 112023

RAV4

  • miles
error code P1C80-49 because of Toyota terrible manufacturing defect

- Gasport, NY, USA

problem #7

Jul 312022

RAV4

  • miles
My 2020 Rav4 transmission is lagging power during acceleration and will not get up to speed, and also is stumbling and making a pulse like motion during acceleration. My safety and my family safety and others safety are put at risk when entering a highway, feeder, any busy road. We have taken it to the dealer for them to inspect it and the mechanic told us that his personal Rav4 does the same thing but doesn't understand why. It has started a few months ago I don't remember the exact time but however it is becoming more common and there are no warning lights when this problem occurs.

- New Caney , TX, USA

Read the next 6 complaints »