Home · 2014 Toyota RAV4 Hv · Complaints

What 194 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Toyota RAV4 Hv

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 (194)Crash / fire / injury (48)Electrical system (69)Engine (31)Transmission & drivetrain (20)Steering (19)Body & structure (17)Brakes (16)Airbags (11)Lights (8)Visibility & wipers (8)Fuel system (7)

Newest first · 194 complaints · page 5 of 8

Apr 8, 2020Electrical system

RADIO WILL COMPLETELY STOP WORKING TO WHERE YOU HAVE TO BUY A NEW $1200 RADIO FROM THE DEALER. ALL DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS WILL STOP WORKING AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME CAUSING YOU TO NOT BEING ABLE TO UNLOCK OR OPEN YOUR DOORS.

NHTSA ODI 11320480

Mar 7, 2020Electrical system

2014 TOYOTA RAV 4. OVER THE PAST YEAR--THE ELECTRIC LOCKS ON ALL FOUR DOORS STOPPED WORKING--TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC AND TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WHO SAID IT WAS THE ACTUATORS IN THE DOORS AND WOULD COST OVER $2000 TO FIX THEM. I WOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM, BUT THIS CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD AND HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT. I FIND IT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT ALL FOUR WOULD BE KNOCKED OUT AT ONCE, AND SUSPECT THAT IT IS A . IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN. I SUSPECT THAT THEY USED INFERIOR/FAULTY PARTS.

NHTSA ODI 11316695

Feb 17, 2020Electrical system

THE RADIO CONTROL UNIT WENT INTO A REBOOT CYCLE AND NEVER COMPLETES. THE ENTIRE UNIT IS UNABLE TO BE USED FOR ANY OF IT'S FUNCTIONS. RADIO, BLUETOOTH, GPS, ETC. THERE ARE A LOT OF TOYOTA OWNERS REPORTING THIS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY WITH THE 2014 RAV4. THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLE AND VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE.

NHTSA ODI 11309607

Jan 23, 2020SeatsCrash2 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER HUSBAND WHO OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, A VEHICLE APPROACHING BEHIND REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE IMPACT, THE VEHICLE JOLTED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT AND ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH WAS TO THE LEFT. THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT COLLAPSED AND WAS DEFORMED DURING THE IMPACT. IN ADDITION, THE HEAD REST COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT. THE CONTACT WAS ASKED ABOUT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND CONFIRMED THAT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DURING THE IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. A PASSENGER SITTING IN AN UNKNOWN LOCATION OF THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INJURED AND SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A IMPOUND LOT AND THEN TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHERE AN ADJUSTER WAS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. A LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ODI 11301354

Dec 11, 2019Lights

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, JUST TURNED THE CAR FROM ENGINE ON TO OFF WITH JUST THE BATTERY ON RUNNING THE RADIO WHILE I WAS PREPARING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE ENTIRE RADIO SYSTEM COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. I LOOKED AT MY INFOTAINMENT SCREEN AND IT WAS CERTAINLY HAVING A ISSUE BECAUSE EVER SINCE THAT DAY OVER ONE YEAR AGO I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LISTEN TO RADIO, USE GPS, USE BLUETOOTH, ETC. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE UNDER A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO 1) LOSS OF PHONE/BLUETOOTH (USE OF MOBILE PHONES WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE IS REQUIRED IN MANY STATES TO GO THROUGH BLUETOOTH) AND I CANNOT COMPLY WITH THESE LAWS IF MY SYSTEM HAS MALFUNCTIONED, 2) I PAID FOR A VEHICLE WITH A GPS NAVIGATION FOR A REASON AND NOW I LOST THAT EXPENSIVE CAPABILITY AS WELL, 3) RADIO'S ARE USED TO KEEP THE DRIVER ALERT AND FOCUSED AND THIS WAS LOST 4) THE LOOPING SCREEN IS EXTREMELY BRIGHT, CANNOT BE DARKENED AND IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH IT. I HAVE HAD TO COMPLETELY COVER OVER MY SCREEN SO NOW IT'S LIKE I'M DRIVING A FLINTSTONES VEHICLE WITH NOTHING TECHNOLOGY WISE IN THIS $25,000 VEHICLE I PAID FOR. "TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE CONTACT US - I CONTACTED TOYOTA VIA PHONE CALL EARLIER TODAY WITH LIMITED RESULTS, BUT LATER EMAILED TOYOTA AND PROVIDED A LINK TO THIS PAGE. THE CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE SUGGESTED THAT ANYONE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR RADIO/NAVIGATION SYSTEM SHOULD CALL AND EMAIL THEIR COMPLAINTS. TOYOTA IS NOT CURRENTLY OFFERING ANY REMEDY OR ASSISTANCE TO PREMATURELY FAILING RADIO SYSTEMS THAT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT ALL CALLS AND EMAILS ARE MONITORED AND WHEN THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS, TOYOTA WILL RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM AND MAY OFFER ASSISTANCE OR REIMBURSEMENT." HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2014/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/

NHTSA ODI 11288506

Dec 7, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE NAVIGATION/INFORMATION SYSTEM SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED. THE SCREEN TURNED A BLUE COLOR AND THE SYSTEM BECAME INOPERABLE. SCREEN KEEPS ATTEMPTING TO RELOAD BUT IT FAILS. RADIO OR NAVIGATION INOPERABLE BUT THE REAR VIEW CAMERA DOES WORK. OCCURRED AT 60,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11287661

Nov 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrainBrakes1 injury

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 11/13/2019 @ 8:30AM. I HAD STARTED MY 2014 TOYOTA RAV4, PULLED OUT FROM UNDER THE CARPORT APPRX. 25FT AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND FULLY ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE I ALWAYS DO THIS IF I NEED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE RUNNING FOR ANY REASON. IN THIS CASE I WAS HEATING THE INTERIOR AS IT WAS CHILLI. I WENT BACK INSIDE MY HOME TO GET THE ANIMAL CRATE THAT CONTAINED MY CAT WHO NEEDED TO GO TO THE VET. AS I WAS LOADING THE CRATE INTO THE FRONT SEAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING IN REVERSE. I WAS BETWEEN THE OPEN DOOR AND THE VEHICLE ITSELF AND AFTER FREAKING OUT A SECOND LOOKED TO SEE IF THE PARKING BRAKE HAD DISENGAGED. IT HAD NOT.AT THAT POINT I WAS ALONG FOR THE RIDE AND THE CAR DRUG ME TOWARD THE LAUNDRY ROOM AND I WENT UNDERNEATH THE OPEN DOOR HOLDING ONTO THE ARMREST. WHEN I HAD TO RELEASE MY TRIP I WAS LAID OUT ON MY BACK WITH MY ARMS AND HANDS RAISED. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH FIRST MY LEFT ELBOW THEN WRIST THEN HAND WRENCHING MY LEFT SHOULDER AS IT DID SO. THIS ACCIDENT SHOULD NEVER HAVE OCCURRED. THE SAFETY MEASURES FAILED. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN OCTOBER 2017 AND HAD NO TROUBLE DOING THE EXACT SAME THING AS DESCRIBED MANY MANY TIMES. TOYOTA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND NOW NEEDS TO GO TO ANY LENGTHS NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE ELSE.

NHTSA ODI 11281992

Nov 19, 2019Electrical system

NAVIGATION AND ENTERTAINMENT PANEL WENT OUT WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN USE. SON WAS DRIVING IN AN UNFAMILIAR AREA AND WAS USING NAVIGATION SYSTEM TO GET HOME WHEN SYSTEM WENT OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11281128

Oct 28, 2019Electrical systemSpeed control

CAR RANDOMLY STOPPED ACCELERATING WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. THE CHECK EV SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON WITH A TURTLE IN A CIRCLE AS WELL. THANKFULLY WE WERE ABLE TO PUSH TO SIDE OF ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11271680

Oct 13, 2019

RADIO IN MY 2014 RAV4 WON'T TURN ON OR OFF. THE SCREEN LOOKS LIKE IT IS TRYING TO REBOOT BUT GETS TO A CERTAIN POINT THEN STOPS AND STARTS AGAIN. IT CREATES SAFETY ISSUES AS IT DIVERT DRIVER EYES WHAT HAPPEN AND HAVE TO USE CELL PHONE WHILE DRIVING TO CHECK ROAD CONDITIONS. IT PREVENTS DRIVERS FROM UP TO DATE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND CAR CONDITION. EVERYTHING USED TO DISPLAY IN RADIO SCREEN.

NHTSA ODI 11268220

Oct 10, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE SHUDDERS AT BETWEEN 20-40 MPH WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS, UP AND DOWN, LOSES POWER BRIEFLY, BELIEVE IT IS A TORQUE CONVERTER ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11267775

Oct 9, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

AFTER STOP UPON TURNING RIGHT TO BLEND WITH TRAFFIC ENGINE LOOSES ALL POWER , RPM DROPS FROM 1500 TO 400 , THEN WILL CATCH IN ABOUT 4 TO 5 SECOND AND ACCELERATE , HAS HAPPENS 12 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS CAR HAS 11000 MILES ON IT

NHTSA ODI 11267320

Sep 9, 2019Lights

NAVIGATION/BLUETOOTH/MEDIA FUNCTION SCREEN NO LONGER WORKS, IT HAPPENED WHEN I STARTED IT ABOUT A MONTH AGO AT 65,750 MILES ON MY CAR. I'VE READ THAT THIS USUALLY HAPPENS AROUND 65,000 MILES TO 70,000 MILES FOR THIS MODEL AND CAN COST UP TO $2,000 TO $3,000 TO GET IT FIXED. IT STARTS OFF AS A BLACK SCREEN THEN LIGHTS UP LIKE ITS DOWNLOADING SOMETHING THEN GOES BLACK AGAIN. ITS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE DRIVING AT NIGHT OR EARLY MORNING WHEN ITS DARK NO MATTER HOW LOW OF A SETTING YOU HAVE FOR YOUR DASH LIGHTING SETTING WHEN IT LIGHTS UP ITS EXTREMEY BRIGHT. AND EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT WILL HAPPEN IT STILL MAKE ME TAKE MY EYES OF THE ROAD TO LOOK AT IT. AND LIVING IN THE COUNTRY THAT IS A COUPLE OF SECONDS I CAN'T AFFORD, LUCKILY I HAVE YET TO HIT A DEER OR OTHER LIVING THING.

NHTSA ODI 11254248

Aug 13, 2019Electrical system

AT 46K MILES, DRIVER DOOR LOCK/ACTUATOR BEGAN TO FAIL WHEN UNLOCKING WITH KEYFOB/HAND SENSOR WHEN VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. PRESSING THE LOCK/UNLOCK ON KEY FOB/DOOR PANEL WORKED 50% OF THE TIME. AT 50K MILES, ALL DOORS (DRIVER, PASSENGER, DRIVER REAR, AND PASSENGER REAR) NO LONGER UNLOCK/LOCK EXCEPT WHEN DONE MANUALLY THROUGH INSERTION OF KEY IN DRIVER DOOR AND MANUALLY UNLOCKING ALL OTHER DOORS (PASSENGER, PASSENGER REAR, AND DRIVER REAR) FROM EACH INDIVIDUAL DOOR LOCK .

NHTSA ODI 11243800

Jun 12, 2019Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING WAS DIM. THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY VIEWING THE GAUGES. LAST WEEK, THE CONTACT ALMOST CRASHED BECAUSE HE WAS FOCUSING SO HARD ON TRYING TO SEE THE SCREEN. YARK TOYOTA (1377 CONANT ST, MAUMEE, OH 43537, (419) 737-4373) WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND AGREED WITH THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ODI 11219536

May 7, 2019Electrical system

RADIO STOPPED WORKING ON 4-24-2019

NHTSA ODI 11206100

Apr 27, 2019Electrical system

TAKATA RECALL. ALL OF THE DOORS ON MY 2014 RAV4 LOCK AND UNLOCK WHEN THEY CHOSE TO. NORMALLY WHEN THE CAR IS IN DRIVE THE DOORS ALL LOCK HOWEVER AS OF JANUARY 2019 THEY HAVE BEEN LOCKING AND UNLOCKING WHEN THEY DECIDED TO WORK. USING THE EXTERNAL KEY BUTTON TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS WORKING MAYBE 50% OF THE TIME ON ABOUT 2 TO 3 OF THE DOORS. THE SAME GOES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL LOCK BUTTONS AND WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN WHO I AM NOT TERRIFIED TO HAVE IN MY CAR. SHOULD THE DOORS CHOSE TO NOT LOCK AND THEY ACCIDENTALLY PULL THE DOOR OPEN IT WOULD BE A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT. AND MY YOUNGEST HAS A PANIC ATTACK WHEN I GO TO GET HIM FROM THE CAR BUT CANT BECAUSE THE DOORS NEVER UNLOCKED WHEN WE PARKED. PLEASE FIGURE THIS PROBLEM OUT I LOVE MY RAV BUT IT IS NOT SAFE RIGHT NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11204112

Apr 6, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)

AUDIO NOT WORKING REPEAT RELOADING . SOME HOW BACKUP CAMERA IS WORKING

NHTSA ODI 11194319

Mar 26, 2019Electrical system

ALL THE APPS ON THE DASH BOARD, INCLUDING RADIO ARE GONE{WHITED OUT}. I AM AFRAID IF EVERYTHING IS SHUTING DOWN ALL AT ONCE WHILE I DRIVE AS IT DID ON THIS ONE

NHTSA ODI 11191655

Mar 4, 2019LightsBrakes

LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT - WATER IS ACCUMULATING INSIDE THE TAIL LIGHT LENSE - POTENTIAL FOR ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE AND INABILITY TO WARN VEHICLES BEHIND RAV4 THAT CAR IS TURNING OR BRAKING

NHTSA ODI 11183882

Dec 21, 2018Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsSpeed controlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE BODY REPAIR WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $4,700. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE ACCELERATION MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11162919

Dec 19, 2018Electrical system

THE RADIO/INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM ON THESE VEHICLES ARE FAILING (OURS FAILED LAST WEEK), WITH NUMEROUS EXAMPLES POSTED BY OWNERS ONLINE. A DEALERSHIP EVENTUALLY DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE RADIO UNIT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT QUOTED COST OF $1160 TOYOTA CUSTOMER SUPPORT IS COURTEOUS BUT UNWILLING TO ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE RADIO SYSTEM APPEARS TO ENTER A BOOT LOOP WHERE A LOADING TYPE SCREEN APPEARS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS FOLLOWED BY THE SCREEN TURNING OFF FOR A TIME BEFORE RESTARTING THE LOOP. WHILE I WOULDN'T CONSIDER THE RADIO/INFOTAINMENT TO BE A CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT, THIS CONSTANT ON/OFF OF THE RADIO SCREEN IS A DISTRACTION FOR THE DRIVER. AT NIGHT ESPECIALLY, THE CHANGE IN BRIGHTNESS FROM SCREEN OFF TO SCREEN ON LIGHTS UP THE ENTIRE CABIN. FURTHERMORE, THE BOOT LOOP CANNOT BE STOPPED- NO BUTTONS WORK AND THE SEQUENCE REPEATS ITSELF FOREVER AS LONG AS THE KEY IS ON.

NHTSA ODI 11162462

Dec 2, 2018Electrical system

WHEN I HAD MY CAR IN PARK MY STEREO STOPPED WORKING. NO RADIO, NO SATELLITE, NO NOTHING OTHER THAN BACK UP CAMERA. WHEN I START THE CAR I GET A BLUE PICTURE OF THE STEREO AND A STATUS BAR LOADING LIKE ON COMPUTERS WHEN A PROGRAM IS LOADING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND HE EXPLAINED THAT THE REPLACEMENT WOULD COST 2,500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE AND HE EXPLAINED THERE WAS NO MEANS TO FIX IT. I WENT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THE SAME THING. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ONLY 1 YEAR AND 6 MONTHS WITH 45000 MILES AND IT JUST SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN THESE RADIOS THAT CAUSE THIS ENDLESS LOOP TO OCCUR. MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME MODEL OF CAR AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11155457

Nov 29, 2018Brakes

BRAKES HAVE MADE A HARD SCRATCHING SOUND IF VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN DAILY SINCE ITS PURCHASE. AT 30000 MILE SERVICE, MECHANIC HAS NOTED THAT REAR ROTORS ARE NOT MAKING FULL CONTACT.

NHTSA ODI 11154831

Nov 10, 2018Electrical system

WHILE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AND PARKED THE SMART KEY SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES IN YELLOW FOR 15+ SECONDS WHEN BOTH ELECTRONIC KEYS ARE IN THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WILL NOT START. SYSTEM WORKS NORMAL WITH ONLY ONE (EITHER) ELECTRONIC KEY. BOTH KEYS HAVE NEW DURACELL 3.0V CR2032 LITHIUM BATTERY INSTALLED AND ISSUE PERSISTS. USER CHECKED FOR PRESSED BUTTON(S) ON ELECTRONIC KEY. KEY IS NOT ENCLOSED IN CASE, PURSE, OR HOLDER. NO IR OR RF INTERFERENCE. ISSUE HAS ALSO BEEN OBSERVED WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING WITH TRANSMISSION IN (P)ARK AND SECOND ELECTRONIC KEY IS INTRODUCED INTO VEHICLE (PICK UP PASSENGER WITH SECOND KEY) AND THE SMART KEY SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES IN YELLOW FOR 15+ SECONDS. THE ISSUE HAPPENS ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, COMMERCIAL PROPERTY, AND AT ANY ELEVATION (PARKING GARAGE ABOVE OR UNDER GROUND) OR INSIDE A GARAGE. THIS ISSUE BEGAN AFTER 50,000 MILES (4 YEARS OF SERVICE). VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND ONLY ONE OWNER.

NHTSA ODI 11150774

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Working with the data? Download all 194 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 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 2014 Toyota RAV4 Hv verdict →