10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
1,606 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 #10

Feb 142024

RAV4

  • miles
Vehicle was taken in for a oil change. At check-in I was told that I would be given a rental vehicle due to the overhead rails recall, leaking inside the vehicles at that time I advised of a gas smell which I have been smelling for several years and it was getting stronger. I was told that there was something wrong with the fuel pump and it would need to be replaced and they would also be replacing rails from the top of my vehicle because there was water leaks inside my car, I advised that water has been leaking in my car for several years and clips were already placedbout two years ago. Several days later I received a phone call that my vehicle was ready to pick up when I got there i was informed that the fuel pump assembly was replaced and intake. Manifest gasket, throttle gasket, fuel pump gasket replaced EGR valve replaced EGR inlet gasket replaced EGR valve. ad gasket replaced EGR cooler gasket replaced. I was also told that my air filters would need to be changed and I did consent to my air filters, the air element and a brake system flush as recommended after picking up my vehicle which had 34033 miles on it on 1/24/24. On 2/10 I was driving and a warning flashed on my car and spoke to me it said that there was a malfunction detected in the engine, transmission or throttle of the vehicle and I need to contact Toyota. I was two miles away and drove directly to them. They took the vehicle for several hours. I was told it was the alternator because my lights have been going dim and very bright. I advised that I have issues with the windows closing since the most recent repair as well and the vehicle is losing power. After almost 4 hours I was informed it a thermostat. Everyone had gone home and they could not give me a give me a rental so I had to drive this vehicle until Monday afternoon. The thermostat and gasket were replaced and I was charged because they used insurance without telling me. I believe this is a malfunction in their system related to origina

- Zephyrhills, FL, 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

Aug 222022

RAV4

  • miles
On several occaisions the vehicle has incorrectly detected an impending collision, disconnected the adaptive speed control and applied the brakes forcefully. On one occasion, it happened while driving in heavy slushy snow. Speed control wouldn't reengage. The dealer suggested cleaning off the Toyota logo in front and that resolved the problem. The other times the problem occured, the vehicle was being drive in late afternoon daylight on I 80. The vehicle was in the left lane, going around a tight (for an Interstate) curve with another vehicle in the right lane and slightly ahead. It apparently thought that the other vehicle was in the same lane. i.e., the vehicle had inadequate knowledge of it's position relative to the roadway. Up to that point, it understood that it was in it's own lane. Each time this occurred, the road was (fortunately) relatively empty so no crash occurred.

- Far Rockaway, NY, USA

problem #7

May 122022

RAV4

  • miles
On May 12, 2022 I was driving our 2022 Rav4 Hybrid. At about 10 am that morning I arrived at the Sherwin Williams store in Chandler, AZ. I applied the brakes and put the car in park. But the car did not stop! It continued to forge ahead, smashing into the building barrier and even then it kept trying to move forward. 1.The whole front end was smashed. 2.The first responders had to pry open the door to extract me from the car. 3.It was later determined that I had broken a rib. (I was lucky it was not more.) 4.The car was later declared -??totaled-?? by the insurance company. By -standers immediately called the police. 1.The police officer confirmed that the car was in park, at the time of the accident. 2.The officer also confirmed with witnesses that the car was in park but was still moving ahead. 3.The officer recorded the witnesses-?? names and contacts. 4.I have a copy of the police report, Before the accident, both my husband and I had noticed that the car had a tendency to jump ahead even after putting it in park. Since that time I have connected with other Rav4 owners on social media and have discovered that this -?? jumping ahead-?? has been experience by a lot of other owners.

- Laveen, AZ, USA

problem #6

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

problem #5

Mar 122022

RAV4

  • miles
I was driving on an Interstate highway with th speed control on in extremely light traffic and very heavy, slushy snow when the brakes were applied full and the instrument panel flashed red. There were (fortunately) no other vehicles in front or behind me. Since there was no reason for stopping, I stepped on the accelerator and the vehicle operated normally EXCEPT that I was no longer able to use the speed control. Calls to Toyota's 800 number were of no help, but a service advisor at Sunrise Toyota suggested cleaning slush off the Toyota logo on the grill. After cleaning the logo, the car operated normally. Toyota subsequently examined the car at the dealer and determined that it was operating as designed. I BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE'S SOFTWARE DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REDESIGNED.

- Far Rockaway, NY, USA

problem #4

Aug 312020

RAV4

  • miles
A different problem that involves steering is when using speed control (cruise control). I only have attempted this while on the PA Turnpike at faster speeds, or a highway with a higher speed limit, but when engaging speed control with lane centering assistance, vehicle will sometimes pull you too close to the left side of your lane. In some cases, it will almost appear to others you are drunk as it is working to keep you centered in your lane, but at times it will just pull you to the left side of your lane, so close to others that traffic will beep and I'll want to poop my pants, because it harder to pull back to center when this is doing the steering for you in cruise control mode. Have turned off lane center assist and the speed control works fine, including slowing you down as traffic slows. But with lane center assist on, and using cruise control, this is when erratic behavior exists. Dealer could not duplicate the issue - would require taking this on a fast moving highway, like the PA turnpike, and hope it happens while out on that trip. Does not always do it, and have to been able to figure out why it does it (I.E. double yellow line vs. white intermittent line). When it happens, it puts you too close to traffic next to you and could cause other vehicles to either impact with you or make them swerve out of the way thinking you are coming into their lane. Very serious when it happens, moving at high rate of speed, and lane centering when using speed control is very strong and harder to override vs. the small bump it gives you when not using speed control and too close to the shoulder for example. That lane correction works well, albeit a bit weak to correct. Has happened since new, August 2020. And continues to happen sporadically.

- Glen Mills, PA, USA

problem #3

Feb 062021

RAV4

  • 15,000 miles
On February 6, 2021 in atlanta ga, the vehicle, while in motion at around 30mph, displayed a 'hybrid system malfunction' warning and began beeping and trembling. The warning said that the car must be stopped within 0.9 miles but lasted far less than that, fully losing any effect of the accelerator pedal mid-traffic. The vehicle coasted into a parking lot on momentum and was stopped with a final warning that braking power was reduced. Had this very situation occurred on an interstate, it easily could have been fatal to my wife, who was driving at the time, and to our unborn child. The vehicle is 9 months old, was purchased new, and has around 15,000 miles.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #2

Jun 252020

RAV4

  • 1,000 miles
Tried to set radar controlled cruise control for the first time on a work trip to Michigan at 70 mph. The steering wheel immediately turned to the left and took considerable pressure to keep vehicle straight. Took SUV in to shop and they said the radar controlled adaptive cruise control was working fine and they could not duplicate problem. This week took another work trip to Michigan and the same problem happened about 20 times while trying to set cruise control at 70 mph. When I disabled the radar cruise control the problem vanished but the SUV would not detect traffic in front of it and of course would not slow down. Will try to video this problem and take SUV back to shop for a fix.

- Plainfield, IL, USA

problem #1

Jun 222020

RAV4 4-cyl

  • 59 miles
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the radar enhanced cruise control failed to operate while driving at various speeds without warning. The contact stated that when a vehicle pulled in front of the vehicle, the vehicle slowed down however, the brake light failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to twin city Toyota (301 autumn ridge dr, herculaneum, mo 63048) however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 59.

- Festus, MO, USA