*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Electrical system
A 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XSE, purchased October 17, 2023, has experienced serious, recurring safety-related electronic failures for more than two years. The rearview backup camera intermittently displays a completely black image, even while other camera display functions remain operational. The multimedia/navigation screen also malfunctions or goes black while driving, causing navigation directions to disappear unexpectedly. These failures create dangerous conditions. Loss of the backup camera compromises a critical safety feature when reversing, particularly around pedestrians and children. Unexpected display failures while driving can cause dangerous distractions and increase the risk of…
Oct 2, 2026Visibility/wiper
The rear fixed panoramic roof glass panel spontaneously shattered while driving on the highway at 70 mph with no external impact or road debris present. The shattering sounded like a gunshot. The sliding panel below the glass was closed at the time, but this could have been a major safety issue if it was open and glass shattered into the vehicle and hit the driver. The roof glass was inspected by the collision center and our insurance company covered it as a comprehensive claim with zero evidence of a collision or impact. There was no warnings prior to failure of the glass.
Sep 26, 2026Electrical system
The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Rav4. The vehicle was previously taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V595000 (Electrical System); however, the dealer repeatedly delayed the repair due to parts availability issues. The dealer kept the vehicle for the duration due to the instrument panel failing. Once the parts had arrived and the repairs started, the dealer declined to complete the recall repair because the vehicle had accumulated too many miles. The failure mileage was 126,293.
Aug 3, 2026 · 126,293 milesStructure › Body
My daughter was driving it on the interstate and I was the passenger. When she got up to 60MPH, the hood of the car began a slight vibration. When she got up to 70MPH, the hood began to flutter. As soon as possible, she exited the interstate so that I could be sure the hood was closed properly. It was, but it was still possible to press down on the hood. Though I've had the car two years, most of my driving is local with speed limits far below 60MP. The few times I've been on open highway, I can't see the hood seated in the driver's seat...I am short. I've found information on the Internet that this is a known issue with Rav4's in a certain year range. I have NOT been able to find out if it…
Mar 28, 2024Engine
While in stop and go traffic during heavy rain, vehicle stalled and would not restart. After several attempts, it did restart but ran very rough. A couple days before, a red warning light came on for the steering system, also during a rain event.
Oct 16, 2026Service brakes
Vehicle produces a plastic-sounding grinding noise from the brake area whenever the vehicle rolls over a rough or uneven road surface while braking. This has occurred since purchase of the vehicle and continues to occur as of current mileage (approximately 45,000 miles). The noise is distinct from normal brake pad wear squeal -- it sounds like a hard plastic component grinding or rattling, correlated specifically with braking over bumps/uneven pavement rather than constant or speed-dependent. The dealer has not yet inspected this specific complaint. Other owners of the same model year have filed similar NHTSA complaints describing brake grinding/squealing noise beginning well under 10,000…
Oct 15, 2026Fuel/propulsion system
Fuel gauge needle drops to empty when approximately one-quarter tank or more of fuel remains. First noticedXXX; the exact day is approximate (first noticed sometime in XXX). Dealer (Toyota of Gastonia, [XXX], phone [XXX]; repair order XXX dated XXX) diagnosed a suspected deformed fuel tank and faulty fuel level sender causing improper fuel level readings, and quoted $1,788.85 for tank removal, inspection, and tank assembly replacement. This is the same defect family Toyota acknowledged in Technical Service Bulletin T-SB-0109-20 and Customer Support Program 20TE04 (fuel tank shape variation causing the fuel sender gauge to read incorrectly) for 2019-2021 RAV4 Hybrids. The vehicle is a 2023…
May 1, 2026SteeringCrash1 injury
1. System Failure & Availability: Vehicle's automated driver-assist (Lane Tracing/Keeping Assist) and steering modules failed. The vehicle is intact and available for inspection under a strict spoliation hold at an independent facility. 2. Safety Risk & Injuries: On a curve at ~50 mph, the automated steering suffered a violent uncommanded intervention, overrode human control, and jerked the wheel out of the driver's hands, causing a head-on collision with a tree. Injuries required immediate ambulance transport. Diagnoses include a concussion, a severe large left leg hematoma with extreme swelling, open wounds, and deep tissue trauma causing foot numbness. This required a secondary ER return…
Sep 14, 2026
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
