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2013 Toyota RAV4 Phev
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
254 owner complaints · 2 recalls · data verified July 20, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Electrical system problems dominate (29% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#136 of 387Among the 2013 models with a matured record, the 2013 Toyota RAV4 Phev ranks #136, scoring higher than 63% of them. See the 2013 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2013 Toyota Rav4 SUV AWD Later Release
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 17%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2013 Toyota RAV4 Phev, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (73) · Engine (29) · Body & structure (28) · Brakes (23)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electrical system
29%73 complaints · 17 in the last 2 years
“The dealer, Toyota of Chula Vista insists that i pay for the recall of the battery they had my car all day yesterday first they lied battery not available then they qu…”
Engine
11%29 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“I had a 2013 Rav4, while i was driving the car the car started a fire under the hood and burn completely up. Im trying to file a complaint or talk to someone discussin…”
Transmission & drivetrain
11%29 complaints · typically near 70k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“My 2013 RAV4 has been experiencing shuddering and vibrations at low speeds. Turns out it is the torque converter which Toyota was aware some 2013-2014 RAV4 have the pr…”
Body & structure
11%28 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2013 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that large pieces of paint had separated from the hood and contacted the front windshield while driving, creati…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 1 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 254 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 49 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (2)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Electrical System · 23V734000
Toyota 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.
Risk: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
Trailer Hitches · 15V011000
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
Risk: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Toyota before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2013 Toyota RAV4 Phev. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2013 Toyota RAV4 PHEV beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2013? See how every RAV4 Phev model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2013 Toyota RAV4 Phev against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.