Home · 2013 Toyota RAV4 Phev · Complaints

What 254 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Toyota RAV4 Phev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (254)Crash / fire / injury (49)Electrical system (73)Engine (29)Transmission & drivetrain (29)Body & structure (28)Brakes (23)Speed control (17)Airbags (13)Equipment (13)Visibility & wipers (13)Steering (11)

73 of 254 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 2 of 3

Sep 13, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

Note: This is a fully electric vehicle. It was made by Toyota, but the drive train (electric motor, battery, etc.) is made by Tesla. Earlier this summer (Around June 2021) while starting the vehicle from a stop, the vehicle either shifted to neutral (halfway through an intersection) or stalled. The vehicle displays a message saying "Check EV System". We have since taken it to two Toyota dealerships. The first (Toyota of Tacoma in Tacoma WA) said the 12V battery needed to be replaced, but the issue happened again almost immediately after we took the vehicle off the lot and completely stalled in the middle of a busy intersection. We brought it back to the same dealership who then said nothing was wrong with the vehicle. We also took the vehicle to a local auto repair shop that specializes in electric vehicles where they were able to recreate the issue but unfortunately were unable to work on the car as Tesla had locked the codes needed to diagnose the issues. The second dealership (Titus Will Toyota in Tacoma WA) was able to reproduce the issue, but they didn't have the equipment to work on the vehicle. They said that they spoke to the Toyota engineering team who told them that the speed sensor had moisture on it, and the coolant on the right side was low which indicates that coolant was leaking into the electric motor and the vehicle needed a new drive train. Toyota said that since the drive train was made by Tesla, they are unable to work on the vehicle and we would need to figure out how to get the vehicle from Washington to California to find a shop that could service the vehicle and completely replace the entire drive train - a diagnosis made and given over the phone. We purchased the vehicle just over a year ago in Washington and now it has a dangerous safety issue that neither Toyota nor Tesla is wanting anything to do with and that local repair shops cannot address.

NHTSA ODI 11432802

Mar 23, 2021Electrical system

INDICATES A MALFUNCTION IN THE EV SYSTEM. HIGH BATTERY TEMP SHOW MALFUNCTION ON EVSYSTEM WHILE ON ROAD AND SUDDEN POWER LOSS MAY BE CREATE DEADLY ACCIDENT. WHILE CHARGING IT SHOW MALFUNCTION IN EV SYSTEM.

NHTSA ODI 11404465

Mar 1, 2021Electrical systemBrakesEngine

I SAW ARTICLE IN USA TODAY. EXACT SAME THING WAS HAPPENING TO MY RAV4 A MONTH AGO. I BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE BATTERY- BUT I PAID FOR IT.

NHTSA ODI 11398466

Nov 29, 2020Electrical system

AFTER NOT HAVING USED THE CAR FOR A WHILE, I DECIDED TO SEE IF THINGS WERE GOOD. I COULDN'T TURN THE CAR AT ALL, SO I DECIDED TO JUMP START IT. THE CAR TURNED ON BUT THERE WAS A WARNING SAYING "PROBLEM WITH EV SYSTEM, TAKE TO DEALERSHIP". ON MY WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP, I FELT THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR HAD BEEN REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY. WHEN I ARRIVE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAY LEAVE YOUR CAR HERE AND WE TAKE A LOOK AT IT. I LEFT IT THERE AND START TO HEAD BACK HOME. AS I AM GOING BACK, THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTS ME AND SAYS "WE CAN'T WORK ON THIS CAR BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE WHO IS EXPERIENCED WITH THIS. COME BACK AND PICK IT UP." SO I HEAD BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. ON THE PHONE, I MADE SURE THEY KNEW IT WAS A FULLY ELECTRIC CAR AND THEY SAID WE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT IT. ANYWAYS, AS I AM DRIVING BACK HOME, THE ACCELERATION IS STILL VERY POOR. IT TAKES 30 SECONDS TO GO FROM 0 TO 40MPH. I GET A DIFFERENT WARNING SAYING "BATTERY OVERHEATED, LIMITING ENERGY SUPPLY". THERE ALSO IS THIS NASTY ROTTEN EGG TYPE SMELL AS WELL. I AM KIND OF SCARED NOW BECAUSE BATTERY POWERED CAR HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CATCH ON FIRE. SO FAR NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11376968

Oct 3, 2020Electrical systemFire

DROVE THE CAR 8 BLOCKS ON CITY STREET TO THE FILLING STATION, WHILE TURNING INTO THE FILLING STATION FROM ACCESS ROAD THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE DASH WENT COMPLETELY BLACK JUST SHORT OF FUEL PUMP. STOPPED THE CAR AND RESTARTED, DROVE 50 FT. TO FUEL PUMP. SHUT CAR OFF TO FILL WITH GAS. WENT INTO STATION TO PRE-PAY FOR FUEL. RETURNED TO THE CAR, FILLED WITH FUEL AND TRIED TO START. WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR IT WAS COMPLETELY BLACK, NO ELECTRONICS AT ALL, CALLED MY WIFE TO GET A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE IT REMOVED FROM THE GAS STATION, THEN WENT IN TO STATION TO TELL ATTENDANT THE SITUATION. WHILE EXITING THE STORE I NOTICED SPARKS AND GLOWING EMBERS DROPPING TO THE GROUND FROM INSIDE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AREA. I TURNED BACK AND ASKED THE STATION ATTENDANT FOR A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, RETURNED TO CAR, WITH 5 LB EXTINGUISHER, HOOD WOULD NOT RELEASE SO SPRAYED EXTINGUISHER UP UNDER WHEEL, AROUND HOOD CRACKS, AND BY THIS TIME THE HEAD LIGHT HAD A HOLE WHERE THE FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT, SO SPRAYED FIRE REPELLENT INTO THE HOLE. AFTER ABOUT 10 SEC EXTINGUISHER WAS EMPTY. TOLD GAS STATION ATTENDANT TO CALL FIRE DEPARTMENT AS THE VEHICLE WAS GOING UP IN FLAMES. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES LATER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES.

NHTSA ODI 11362502

Aug 4, 2020Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOCKS WERE UNABLE TO BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED AN ESTIMATE OF $1,800 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ODI 11343210

Jul 13, 2020Electrical systemEngine

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH ALL LIGHTS COMING ON ON THE DASH BOARD. IT CUTS ON WHEN YOU PUT CAR BACK IN PARK THEN TURN THE KEY, BUT STILL TURNS OFF AGAIN WHEN YOU TAKE IT PAST A CERTAIN SPEED OR WHEN STOPPING TO HARD.

NHTSA ODI 11339049

Mar 9, 2020Electrical systemFire

I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD. AS I TURNED INTO THE PARKING LOT OF A STORE, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND SMOKE AND FUMES BEGAN TO FILL THE CABIN. I PULLED TO THE SIDE,GOT OUT OF THE CAR, AND RAISED THE HOOD. THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE AREA OF THE BATTERY. A PERSON NEARBY NOTICED THE FIRE AND CAME TO PUT IT OUT BEFORE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED. LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE ALSO RESPONDED.

NHTSA ODI 11316999

Feb 17, 2020Electrical system

I AM ENTERING A SAFETY COMPLAINT REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY TOYOTA 2013 RAV4. TODAY, I WENT TO MY LOCAL CAR REPAIRMAN TO FIX A HEADLIGHT THAT BLEW OUT. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME IN 6 MONTHS. IN SEPTEMBER, WE HAD TO COMPLETELY CHANGE BOTH HEADLIGHTS BECAUSE PARTS IN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE MELTING. YET, LESS THAN 6 MONTHS LATER, MY PASSENGER HEADLIGHT BLEW OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS SOMETHING SYSTEMATICALLY WRONG WITH MY HEADLIGHTS. ACCORDING TO MY CAR MECHANIC, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BURN OUT. THIS CREATES HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS FOR ME AND MY PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ODI 11309649

Oct 2, 2019Electrical system

2013 RAV4 LIMITED W/ 63,000 MILES. VEHICLE EQUIPMENT WITH SMART KEY PUSH BUTTON START. FOR TWO YEARS THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A INTERMITTENT IGNITION FAILURE. SCENARIO: CAR IS UNLOCKED, KEY FOB IS RECOGNIZED, FOOT ON BRAKE, PUSH START AND NOTHING HAPPENS. THE ANTI-THEFT COLUMN LOCK WILL NOT RELEASE AND THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND TO ITS START COMMAND. THEN IT WILL. THERE IS NO CONSISTENT PATTERN TO WHEN IT WILL FAIL OR WHEN IT WILL "FIX" ITSELF. RECENTLY IT HAS REACHED A LEVEL OF FAILURE THAT ITS TOO RISKY TO TAKE ANY PLACE AND EXPECT TO START AND GET HOME SAFELY. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF DEALER SERVICE 12 PLUS DAYS IN THE LAST 30. DEALER HAS EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE AND HAS DONE EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSIS, CONCLUSION IS, ITS NORMAL. I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IN 2013 AND WHAT TOYOTA HAS PROVEN IS THEY ARE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO REPAIR. I NOW RESORT TO DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY BEFORE PUTTING CAR IN PARK OR CLOSING THE DOORS SO THE ANTI THEFT WON'T LOCK. DOORS AND STEERING WHEEL WON'T LOCK SO WHEN I RECONNECT THE BATTERY IT WILL START. IT HOWEVER RUNS REALLY BADLY UNTIL IT RECALIBRATES. A RELATED CONCERN OF MINE IS THIS INTERMITTENT UNLOCK PROBLEM MAY SUDDENLY LOCK WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA CORPORATE AND HAVE A CLAIM. I HAVE REPORTED TO LOCAL ATTORNEY GENERAL CLAIMING VIOLATION OF SERVICE CONTRACT. I HAVE READ ON LINE OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BUT I'VE NOT READ OF A SOLUTION. I SERVICE RECORDS, EMAILS AND RELATED CLAIMS DOCUMENTS. THIS FIRST OCCURRED IN 2017 AND HAS GROWN FROM AN ANNOYANCE TO UNACCEPTABLE. THANK YOU

NHTSA ODI 11265718

Jun 2, 2019Electrical system

MECHANISM THAT ALLOWS DOORS TO LOCK AND UNLOCK STARTED FAILING ONE BY ONE. I AM THE FIRST OWNER OF MY CAR AND IT WAS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD WHEN THIS BEGAN. I CAN NO LONGER OPEN SEVERAL DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11217323

Jan 26, 2019SteeringElectrical systemBrakes

CAR WON'T START. PANEL TURNS ON BUT IT WON'T ENGAGE THE STARTER. CAN HEAR A BUZZ NOISE, LIKE A MAGNETIZED COIL GOING OFF. SHIFTER IS LOCKED. STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. BRAKE IMPOSSIBLE TO PUSH DOWN. ONLY WAY I CAN START THE CAR IS WITH THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE PUSHING THE START BUTTON FOR 15 SECONDS. BUT STILL THE SHIFTER IS BLOCKED IN PARKING AND TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR I NEED TO USE THE LITTLE SWITCH UNDER THE BUTTON SIZE COVER NEXT TO THE SHIFTER. TOYOTA HAS NO CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON. VEHICLE HAS 45K MILES

NHTSA ODI 11172318

Mar 12, 2018Electrical system

BOTH POWER LOCKS FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE STOPPED WORKING. THE FUSES ARE FINE. IT SEEMS IT'S AN ACTUATOR ISSUE COMMON WITH TOYOTAS.

NHTSA ODI 11078792

Dec 12, 2017Electrical systemSpeed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND SLOWING DOWN TO PARK, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE MAINTENANCE REQUIRED AND HORSESHOE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT QUICKLY CUT OFF THE ENGINE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE KEY INTERMITTENTLY DID NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 11054241

Aug 11, 2017Electrical systemBody & structure

LA PINTURA DE LA GUAGUA SE ESTA SALIENDO. LAS PUERTAS DELANTERAS TIENEN PROBLEMAS CUANDO QUIERES ABRIR O CERRAR LAS MISMAS CON EL LLAVERO. SE LE DAO A AMBAS PUERTAS DELANTERAS EL MOTOR O LO QUE LE LLAMAN "ACTUATOR" A UNA SEMANA DE DIFERENCIA Y CUANDO INTENTO ABRIR LA PUERTA DESDE ADENTRO PARA BAJARME SE QUEDA CERRADA Y NO ME PERMITE ABRIRLA TENGO QUE ESTAR DNDOLE LOCK/UNLOCK HASTA QUE ME DEJA QUITARLE EL SEGURO PARA PODER BAJARME DE LA GUAGUA; ESTO ASUNTO EN PARTICULAR ME PREOCUPA EN CASO DE ALGN ACCIDENTE NO PUEDA ABRIRLA. OTRO PROBLEMA QUE TIENE ES QUE CADA 3 MESES, ES QUE LAS BOMBILLAS DE "STOP" DEL LADO DERECHO SE DAA Y TENGO QUE ESTAR CAMBINDOLA. ESTO HA SUCEDIDO DESDE APROXIMADAMENTE DICIEMBRE 2015. THE PAINT IS COMING OUT. THE FRONT DOORS HAVE PROBLEMS WHEN YOU WANT TO OPEN OR CLOSE THEM WITH THE KEY RING. BOTH FRONT DOORS DAMAGED THE WHAT THEY CALL THE ACTUATOR A WEEK APART AND WHEN I TRY TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR FROM THE INSIDE TO GET OUT THE CAR IT IS CLOSED AND I CAN'T OPEN IT I HAVE TO BE HIT THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON UNTIL IT LETS ME REMOVE THE LOCK TO GET OFF THE CAR; THIS ISSUE IN PARTICULAR WORRIES ME BECAUSE IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT I WON'T BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR FAST. ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT HAS IS THAT EVERY 3 MONTHS, THE BULBS LIGHT FOR STOP ON THE RIGHT SIDE HAS TO BE CHANGE BECAUSE IT DAMAGE AND I HAVE TO BE CHANGING IT. THIS HAS BEEN APPENING SING AROUND DECEMBER 2015.

NHTSA ODI 11014700

Aug 9, 2017Electrical system

IN MAY, 2017 THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR QUIT WORKING. I PAID OVER $600 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS WEEK, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ACTUATOR HAS QUIT. ON BOTH DOORS, THEY WILL ONLY LOCK IF I MANUALLY PUSH THE LOCK. WE HAVE HAD MANY CARS OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FIND OUT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA. NOT HAPPY! I CAN UPLOAD A PICTURE OF THE INVOICE FROM THE FIRST LOCK IF YOU NEED IT, BUT THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

NHTSA ODI 11014046

Mar 18, 2017Electrical system

SQUIRRELS CRAWLED INTO THE HOOD AND CHEWED THE BATTERY CABLE WIRE AND TURN SIGNAL WIRE, THIS HAPPENED 2 DAYS IN A ROW AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE THE FIRST TIME. THE SOY BASED COATING OF THE WIRES IS ATTRACTING A SWARM OF SQUIRRELS.

NHTSA ODI 10966663

Jan 4, 2017SteeringElectrical systemEngine

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ON. THIS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WITHIN 6 WEEKS.

NHTSA ODI 10939782

Apr 20, 2016Electrical systemBody & structureEngineFire

THE ENGINE STARTED ON FIRE UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE CAR WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT. THE RAV4 LIMITED WAS TOTALED. IT WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD AND HAD 17,500 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS SERVICED REGULARLY BY TOYOTA. THE LAST SERVICE WAS ABOUT 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. TOYOTA HAS NOT HONORED THEIR 3YR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE CAR. TOYOTA HAS NOT OFFERED A REPLACEMENT CAR, RENTAL OR ANYTHING. EVERY TIME WE CALL OUR TOYOTA CASE MANAGER OR LEGAL DEPARTMENT MANAGERS, WE HAVE TO LEAVE A MESSAGE AND THEY NEVER RETURN OUR CALLS.

NHTSA ODI 10860544

Jan 11, 2016Electrical systemBrakes

THE "POWER BRAKE ACTUATOR" WENT OUT ON MY 2013 TOYOTA RAV-4 THREE TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENED, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD WOULD COME ON. AT THE SAME TIME ALL OF THE GAUGES INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, ANTI LOCK BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND POWER STEERING WOULD ALL STOP WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. THIS WOULD MAKE IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP OR CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHAT SO EVER.

NHTSA ODI 10819456

Dec 1, 2015SteeringElectrical system

MANUFACTURER: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO. (VIN): XXXXXXX. BOUGHT A TOYOTA CERTIFIED AT DEALERSHIP, (PUSH BUTTON) HOWEVER IN SIX OCCASIONS, CAR ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN ON. INDICATOR LIGHT FOR STEERING WAS ON. AFTER SEVERAL TRIES, AND ONCE I PULLED THE STEERING HARD THEN CAR STARTED FINE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER TO CHECK IT, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR. THE LAST TIME, THE CAR DID NOT START EVEN WITH THE TOYOTA ROAD ASSISTANCE STAFF/TOWING, WAS UNABLE TO GET IT OUT OF GARAGE, AREA WAS TOO LOW. ENDED UP LEAVING CAR AT GARAGE OVERNIGHT. NEXT DAY, I RETURNED THE CAR, DID A TRADE IN FOR NEW TOYOTA. HOWEVER, DEALER OR TOYOTA CO. DID NOT ADMIT PROBLEMS WITH CAR. BATTERY WAS FUNCTIONING FINE AS EVERYTHING ELSE WOULD TURN ON, IE, RADIO, AC ..FAN, LIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI 10807676

Jun 11, 2015Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AND ALL THE GAUGES AND WARNING LAMPS FLICKERED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V143000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ODI 10724709

Jan 15, 2015Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK WHEN USING EITHER THE KEY FOB OR DOING SO MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,005.

NHTSA ODI 10672799

Jan 15, 2015Electrical systemSpeed control

WHEN MAKING A LEGAL U-TURN ON A BUSY ROAD I RAPIDLY BRAKED THE CAR (FROM 45MPH TO 2-3MPH) TO A PARTIAL STOP ROLLING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHILE TURNING THE WHEELS TO A HARD LEFT. I PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR EXPECTING TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE U-TURN AND INSTEAD THE CAR HESITATED AND SLOWED FEELING LIKE THERE WAS A MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER TO THE WHEELS. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE ACCELERATOR WITH NO IMMEDIATE EFFECT IN ACCELERATION. APPROXIMATELY 2-3 SECONDS PASSED AS ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHED IN THE LANE I WAS DRIFTING INTO WHEN SUDDENLY ALL ACCELERATION RESUMED NORMALLY. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED JUST ONCE. ECO MODE WAS TURNED ON AND MY RAV4 IS AN AWD MODEL. I CONSIDER IT TO BE A REPORTABLE INCIDENT SINCE THE HESITATION WAS NOT EXPECTED AND INCREASED THE PROBABILITY OF COLLISION WITH TRAFFIC IN THE DRIVING LANE I WAS TURNING INTO. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10672812

Sep 4, 2014Electrical systemLights

THE NAVIGATION SCREEN IS TOTALLY UNUSABLE IN DAYLIGHT. SCREEN IS FLAT AND EXPOSED TO SUN. DRIVER HAS TO LEAN OVER AND HOLD RIGHT HAND OVER THE SCREEN TO GET ANY VISIBILITY AT ALL. EVEN THEN YOU CAN BARELY SEE IT, NOT TO MENTION THE DANGER OF LEANING OVER, USING THE RIGHT HAND TO SCREEN, AND STARING AT THE SCREEN RATHER THAN THE ROAD. TERRIBLE TERRIBLE DESIGN. TOYOTA WILL NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. $1500 MISTAKE FOR ANYONE WHO PURCHASED THIS ADD-ON. YOU HAVE TO COMPLETELY RELY ON THE VOICE FOR NAVIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10630837

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Working with the data? Download all 254 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 20, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Toyota RAV4 Phev verdict →