AI Damage2024 Toyota RAV4: common problems
Owners of the 2024 Toyota RAV4 filed 176 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 67 service bulletins for this year. We found 2 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 176
- involving a crash
- 28
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 67
- YouTube repair videos
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 22% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 18% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 15% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 9% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 6 Forward collision avoidance 9% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 7% of all complaints
- Engine: 38 complaints (22% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 16.
- Electrical system: 32 complaints (18% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 15.
- Steering: 27 complaints (15% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Structure: 16 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 26.
- Service brakes: 16 complaints (9% of all), 8 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.5 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- automatic, 8-speed
- CVTnamed in 1 complaints
Drive: AWD, FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 176 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 38 | 5 | 16 |
| Electrical system | 32 | 1 | 15 |
| Steering | 27 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 16 | 1 | 26 |
| Service brakes | 16 | 8 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 16 | 3 | 0 |
| Air bags | 12 | 9 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 12 | 8 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Seat belts | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My wife was sitting in the passenger seat her seatbelt successfully restrianted her preventing ejection and injury. However the unlatching of a non impacted door under rotational forces represents a catastrophic structural or mechanical latch failure that poses an imminent risk occupant ejection.
The contact sustained injuries to the upper chest from the impact and the seat belt. The contact had an upcoming appointment with the primary care physician. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 51,020.
The seat belts did not lock. The airbags did not deploy. Both front seat frames were bent and ripped apart. The rear seat that's became detached. The headrest for the front seats flew off. All four seats were occupied by adult males all weighing around 190 pounds or above. All four occupants were wearing seat belts.
The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal sound was heard coming from under the hood and would shudder towards the front-passenger side.
The contact stated that the side air bags had not deployed and that the seat belts on the driver's side and the passenger side could not be unbuckled. The contact stated that his daughter had sustained injuries to her left shoulder, left arm, and leg as well as head and neck injuries.
I kept pushing the brake, but the vehicle kept lurching forward and slammed into car parked in front of me before finally stopping. My vehicle was going so hard forward that it pushed the car I hit 2 to 3 feet out of it's parking space and even punctured the radiator.
Vehicle rolled backwards in reverse while brake pedal was pressed all the way down. Claim was filed with Toyota. After two months, they have said it is a non-issue.
No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the contact attempted to depress the brake pedals to stop the vehicle; however, the vehicle continued accelerating and lost control, resulting in the crash. The vehicle was towed and deemed a total loss by the insurance provider. The diagnosis was not available.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 375 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 18% most complained about).
On average one model year of the RAV4 has 337 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 176, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR EMISSION NONCOMPLIANCE RECALL 26TC03 Certain 2022 – 2025 Model Year RAV4…
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR EMISSION NONCOMPLIANCE RECALL 26TC03 Certain 2022 – 2025 Model Year RAV4 Incorrect Mass Air Flow Sensor Reading
- In wet conditions, water contacting the radiator in the subject vehicles after idling for an extended…
In wet conditions, water contacting the radiator in the subject vehicles after idling for an extended period can create steam that can cause an incorrect engine sensor reading. This can lead to a warning light, a…
- A new head unit software update is available for 2023 – 2024 model year RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, and RAV4 Prime…
A new head unit software update is available for 2023 – 2024 model year RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, and RAV4 Prime vehicles equipped with Toyota Multimedia (earlier than version 1861). This software update includes the…
- Some customers may experience a rough running engine with a MIL ON P140018 DTC
Upon further inspection, a loose C90/C27 connector pin at the EGR valve may be found. To correct this concern, please reference the repair section of this TSB.
- OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026
This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
- Some RAV4 vehicles power seat where the automatic seat adjustment by the memory function does not work
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle…
Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’…
- Some 2021 – 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 – 2024 Camry, 2019 – 2025 model year Corolla, 2022 – 2025 model…
Some 2021 – 2022 model year Avalon, 2018 – 2024 Camry, 2019 – 2025 model year Corolla, 2022 – 2025 model year Corolla Cross, and 2019 – 2025 model year RAV4 vehicles with A25A-FKS and M20A-FKS engines may have a MIL ON…
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to…
To assist with the early detection and early resolution of audio related concerns you may be asked to recover MMR data from the head unit. The following steps are instructions on how to retrieve the data from the…
- The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master…
The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased and can never be reused…
NHTSA lists 67 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2024 Toyota RAV4?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, steering. Total complaints: 176. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (14%), windows, sunroof (13%), infotainment or screen glitches (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2024 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA lists 67 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2024 Toyota RAV4 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2024 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.