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 6 of 8

Sep 30, 2018Visibility & wipers

TOP OF WINDSHIELD IS COMPLETELY BLACK WHEN DRIVING IN THE DARK AT NIGHT. VISIBILITY IS SPECIFICALLY IMPAIRED WHEN TRAVELING DOWN A HILL IN THE DARK.

NHTSA ODI 11132378

Sep 21, 2018

RADIO NAVIGATION QUIT WORKING AFTER BATTERY REPLACEMENT. IT IS CONSTANTLY REBOOTING. DEALER SAYS NEED NEW RADIO WHICH WILL COST ABOUT $1200.00. CANNOT USE BLUETOOTH, HANDS-FREE, CD PLAYER, OR RADIO. TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE EVEN THOUGH MANY OTHERS HAVE SAME ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11130650

Sep 5, 2018Body & structure

WE EXPERIENCED THE CLASSICALLY DESCRIBED SUNROOF EXPLOSION (A.K.A. SPONTANEOUS SUNROOF BREAKAGE) THAT SOUNDED LIKE A LARGE OBJECT CRASHED INTO OUR 2014 TOYOTA RAV4, OR AN OR AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED RIGHT OVER OUR HEADS. MY GIRLFRIEND IMMEDIATELY ASKED 'WAS IT A BLOW OUT', AND I RESPONDED NO BECAUSE THANKFULLY, I HAD 100% CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT SWERVE OR BRAKE OR FEEL ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES BUT, APPARENTLY LET OFF THE GAS AND WAS SLOWING DOWN. THEN, THE DRIVER OF A PICK-UP TRUCK OVERPASSING US ON THE RIGHT GAVE US DIRTY LOOKS AND WAVED TO US LIKE WE NEEDED TO PULL OVER. WE EXITED ON THE NEXT EXIT (S. ACADIANA THROUGHWAY). THE SUNROOF VISOR WAS THANKFULLY CLOSED, AND UPON OPENING IT UP WE NOTICED THE CONVEX CRATER-LIKE SHATTERED SUNROOF, AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT IT WHEREUPON WE TOO NOTICED THE EXCESSIVE NOISE DUE TO WIND CONTACTING THE OPENING. THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD, WITH A CONVEX, VOLCANO-LIKE CRATER, AND THOUSANDS OF STRESS CRACKS WITH HUNDREDS OF LITTLE GLASS SHARDS EVERYWHERE AROUND THE OPENING. THIS OCCURRED IN THE CENTER, WITH ABOUT OF THE TOTAL SUNROOF SURFACE AREA MISSING (EJECTED). THIS OCCURRED ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 TRAVELLING ROUGHLY 65MPH ALONG I-10 IN BATON ROUGE, LEFT-HAND LANE, WESTBOUND NEAR THE MERGER OF I-12, DURING LIGHT RAIN, NO VEHICLES IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME, SMOOTH SURFACES, NO CONSTRUCTION IN VICINITY, WITH NO OVERHEAD LAMPS OR OVERPASSES. WIDE OPEN DIVIDED HIGHWAY. TEMPERATURE WAS 76F, PER CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11124602

Aug 13, 2018

RADIO NAVIGATION QUIT WORKING AT 52000 MILES.ITS CONSTANTLY REBOOTING. DEALER SAYS NEED NEW RADIO WHICH WILL COST ABOUT $1200.00

NHTSA ODI 11119517

Aug 10, 2018Visibility & wipers

CONSTRUCTION ON 59/20 BROKEN WINDSHIELD

NHTSA ODI 11119277

Jul 30, 2018Visibility & wipers

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THIS MORNING IN MY RAV 4, I HEARD AN INCREDIBLY LOUD BOOM THAT STARTLED ME. IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH SOMEONE HAD FIRED A GUN JUST OUTSIDE MY CAR. I THEN FELT SOME GLASS SHOWERING DOWN ON ME. I QUICKLY LOOKED AROUND TO SEE IF SOMEONE HAD THROWN A ROCK THROUGH A WINDOW OR SHOT AT MY CAR, BUT ALL WINDOWS WERE INTACT. I THEN LOOKED UP AND SAW THAT MY SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED AND MOST OF THE GLASS WAS GONE. LOOKING IN FRONT OF MY CAR, THERE WEREN'T ANY TRUCKS FROM WHICH ROCKS MIGHT'VE FALLEN. AND LOOKING BEHIND ME, I HADN'T DRIVEN UNDER ANY BRIDGES FROM WHICH SOMETHING MIGHT'VE FALLEN OR BEEN THROWN. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT TO SEE WHAT MIGHT'VE CAUSED THE SUNROOF TO SHATTER. THERE WAS NOTHING TO BE FOUND IN MY CAR TO EXPLAIN IT (NO ROCKS OR OTHER OBJECTS THAT MIGHT'VE FALLEN INTO THE CAR). I THEN NOTICED SOMETHING STRANGE - THE GLASS THAT REMAINED ON THE SUNROOF WAS BENDING UPWARD (AWAY FROM THE CAR) AS THOUGH SOMETHING INSIDE THE CAR CAUSED THE GLASS TO SHATTER. HERE'S A VIDEO I RECORDED SHOWING THE REMAINING GLASS: HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/NZE6NT829TM IT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE. I'M GLAD I WASN'T HURT, AND I THANK G-D THAT MY KIDS WEREN'T IN THE BACK SEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11114603

Jul 28, 2018Electrical systemEngineFire

WHILE TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 295 IN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA, WE HAD JUST GOT ON TO THE BUCKMAN BRIDGE WHEN THE CAR SLOWED, UNCOMMANDED TO 20MPH. I LOOKED AT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE ALTERNATOR AND THE AUTO LSD OR TRACK LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE OPERATING TEMPERATURE WAS NORMAL. SINCE THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS NORMAL I TOLD MY DAUGHTER TO KEEP DRIVING TO GET OFF THE BRIDGE, I FELT AS THOUGH THE BRIDGE WAS A BAD PLACE TO PULL OVER. AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE WE STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND AT THIS POINT WE DECIDED TO PULL OVER. WHEN WE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THREE OF US THEN EVACUATED THE VEHICLE AND STARTED WALKING AGAINST TRAFFIC ON THE BRIDGE. AS WE WERE WALKING AWAY THE SMOKE INTENSIFIED AND THEN ERUPTED INTO FLAMES THAT EMANATED FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE JUST BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. I CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE. I BELIEVE IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11114328

Jul 25, 2018Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH APPROACHING A RED LIGHT, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WERE CHECKED BY THE CONTACT AND FOUND TO BE IN GOOD WORKING CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (HIXSON TOYOTA, 11981 LAKE CHARLES, LEESVILLE, LA 71446) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11113647

Jun 21, 2018Equipment

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. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (PREMIER TOYOTA, 47190 COOPER FOSTER PARK RD, AMHERST, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENTIRE INFORMATION/NAVIGATION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,194. *TT

NHTSA ODI 11103034

Jun 14, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

2013-2015 TOYOTA RAV4 TRANSMISSION SHUDDER WARRANTY EXTENSION ZE5. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED UNDER THIS WARRANTY EXTENSIONAT 0 COST TOME. THIS SHOULD BE A L. IT RECALIS A KNOW DEFECT BUT THEY WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO COMPLAIN BEFORE THEY DO THE FIX. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO FIND IT BEFORE I TOOK THE CAR IN SO THE ENTIRE PROCESS IS FREE INCLUDING A LOANER CAR. THE SPECIFIC COMPONENT(S) COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT IS/ARE AS FOLLOWS: *TORQUE CONVERTER KIT (INCLUDES TORQUE CONVERTER, GASKETS, ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION PAN MAGNETS) *UPDATED ENGINE CONTROL SOFTWARE

NHTSA ODI 11101886

Jun 14, 2018Brakes

THE BRAKES ALWAYS MADE HARSH SOUNDS AT LOW SPEEDS. AND THE BREAKS WORE OUT BY 30000. THE DEALERSHIP ALSO ADVISED ME THAT MY ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11101950

May 21, 2018

MY CAR RADIO WENT ON A LOADING SCREEN LOOP, AND NOW IS STUCK ON A LOADING SCREEN . I WENT TO DEALER TO FIX IT OR UPLOAD NEW SOFTWARE BUT THEY SAD THAT RADIO WOULD NOT TAKE. I CAN'T USE CELL HEANDS FREE

NHTSA ODI 11096988

May 11, 2018Body & structure

THE HATCH WILL NOT CLOSE FULLY UNLESS I PUSH ON IT. IT'S A SELF CLOSING DOOR. NOW IT STOPS 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN AND STAYS OPEN. THE VEHICLE IS BEING LOADED AND THEN CLOSED. IT IS STATIONARY.. I'VE HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. I'VE QUERIED ON-LINE AND OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI 11093365

Apr 17, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

LA TRANSMISSION TARDA EN APLICAR EL DRIVE

NHTSA ODI 11088608

Mar 22, 2018Visibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF FRACTURED AND EXPLODED. GLASS PIECES SHATTERED BETWEEN THE HEAD LINER AND THE METAL ROOFING. THE SOFT COVER WAS CLOSED AND PREVENTED GLASS FROM ENTERING THE INNER PART OF THE VEHICLE AND INJURING THE CONTACT. THE DEALER (TOYOTA OF BOERNE, 31205 FRONTAGE RD, BOERNE, TX 78006, (888) 311-6058) REPLACED THE PART AND CLEANED THE INTERIOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11080943

Feb 28, 2018Engine

VEHICLE EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. 1 QUART PER 500 MILES CONSUMED WHILE DRIVING ANYWHERE, IN TOWN AND HIGHWAY DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11075521

Feb 8, 2018Electrical system

MY AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK FAILED. LOCK ACTUATOR REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON JANUARY 24, 2017. IT IS NOW FEBRUARY 2018 AND THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE FAILED AGAIN. I CANNOT LOCK MY CAR AS I CANNOT EVEN MANUALLY UNLOCK THE FRONT DOOR AS THE LOCK WILL NOT ALWAYS RESPOND TO THE TURN OF THE KEY. MY VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT.

NHTSA ODI 11071738

Jan 31, 2018Electrical systemLightsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fire

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND TURNED ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY, AND INSTANTANEOUS FOR A FEW SECONDS (LIKE IT WAS BLINKING) SUPER FAST. EVERYTHING WAS GOING ON AND OFF. AS I WAS PULLING ONTO THE SHOULDER FROM THE MIDDLE LANE ON THE HIGHWAY, IT SHUT OFF COMPLETELY!!! I COULDN'T EVEN PUT MY HAZARDS ON. I WAS WAITING IN THE CAR FOR A TOW TRUCK AND MY HUSBAND, I WAS WITH MY DAUGHTER. THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE AND FLAME AND WAS ON FIRE. WE JUMPED OUT AND YET WAS UP IN FLAMES!!!!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11066101

Jan 26, 2018Electrical system

ISSUE FIRST STARTED WHEN BATTERY HAD TO BE JUMPED. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER WHEN IN MOTION DRIVING TO THE BANK, THE RADIO STARTED ACTING UP AND GOT STUCK ON STATION AND SONG AND THEN JUST WENT BLACK THEN A PICTURE OF THE RADIO APPEARED THE ON THE SCREEN AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO UPDATE BUT WOULD GO BLACK AGAIN AND THEN START OVER SO WAS STUCK IN SOME KIND OF REBOOT. NOT SURE IF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR WHAT SO TOOK IT IN TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD ONLY HAVE TO PAY $50-60 TO REBOOT IT. THEY CHECKED THE BATTERY AND SAID THE BATTERY WAS LOW CHARGE AND REPLACED IT AT NO CHARGE BUT SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO REBOOT THE SYSTEM BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT STAY UP LONG ENOUGH BEFORE IT WOULD BLACK OUT AGAIN. SINCE IT WAS BARELY PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER THE SYSTEM AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $1000 TO HAVE REFURBISHED SYSTEM INSTALLED. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND THIS WAS A COMMON COMPLAINT AND FOUND ONE HERE AT THIS SITE AS WELL SO ADDING MINE. I SENT LETTERS AND EMAILS TO TOYOTA TO STAND BEHIND THEIR LONG TIME CUSTOMERS AND PRODUCTS BUT THEY WOULD NOT BUDGE. MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS SHOULD NOT FAIL AFTER 3 YEARS. I CALL THAT A DEFECT BUT I GUESS BECAUSE IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE IT IS NOT IMPORTANT TO TOYOTA. WE ARE A TOYOTA FAMILY AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING TOYOTA'S SINCE MY FIRST CAR BACK IN THE 70'S. I WILL PROBABLY GO AHEAD AND REPLACE WITH REFURBISHED SYSTEM HOPING THIS IS NOT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND REPEAT BUT I WILL CERTAINLY RECONSIDER BEFORE PURCHASING ANOTHER TOYOTA IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA ODI 11065324

Jan 4, 2018

I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 2014 XLE AWD. THE RADIO SYSTEM WENT OUT SHOWING A PICTURE ON THE SCREEN OF THE RADIO AND WHAT SEEMED TO BE A REBOOTING OF THE SYSTEM CONSTANTLY. THE USB PORT IS ALSO SHORTING OUT. TO NOTE WHAT I WAS DOING, I WAS TURNING THE CAR ON IN MY GARAGE TO LEAVE AND RUN ERRANDS FOR THE DAY. THIS ALL HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY. I ONLY USE THE SYSTEM FOR CD PLAYING, RADIO PLAYING, AND OCCASIONALLY NAVIGATION. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST RESPONSE WAS I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $98 EACH FOR A SYSTEM CHECK ON BOTH PROBLEMS. ALSO, I GAVE THE VIN NUMBER TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE REP AND HE STATED THERE WAS AN UPDATE AVAILABLE AT NO COST TO ME. I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AND THE REP CALLED ME AND SAID HE MADE A MISTAKE; THERE WAS NO UPDATE AND THE RADIO IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. THE COST WOULD BE $1200. HE WANTED TO KNOW HOW MANY MILES I HAD ON THE CAR AND IF BOUGHT IT NEW, WHICH I DID BUY IT NEW AT HIS DEALERSHIP. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER RAV4 VEHICLES WITH SAME YEAR. ALSO, OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES WITH SAME TYPE RADIO SYSTEM AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THEM DOING THE SAME THING MINE IS DOING. I FEEL A VEHICLE THAT IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS TYPE OF ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE FIXED WITH AN UPGRADE, NOT THE FACT THE RADIO IS BROKEN AS WELL AS USB PORT NOT WORKING. I TAKE CARE OF MY CAR. IT STILL LOOKS NEW! I HAVE OWNED TOYOTA VEHICLES SINCE I WAS 16 AND I AM NOW 54. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE FACT THE TYPE OF RADIO MOST OF THE NEWER TOYOTAS HAVE INSTALLED ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE AND TOYOTA IS NOT ADDRESSING IT AS THEY SHOULD. I KNOW THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT I FEEL IT IS AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA AS I FEEL THERE IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11058456

Nov 21, 2017Brakes

MY NAME IS [XXX]. THE TOYOTA SERVICE HISTORY OF MY VEHICLE FROM TOYOTA. IT STATES IN FEBRUARY 2017 BRAKES IS GOOD WITH 8MM ON THE FRONT BRAKE PADS. NEXT SERVICE IS IN JUNE 2017, WITH 5,174 MILES LATER BRAKES ARE AT 3.5MM AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS NOT TOLD THAT THE DRIVER SIDE IS AT 3.5 AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS 6.0 MM. THE ISSUES STARTED WHEN THEY WERE REPLACED ON 12/4/2015. [XXX]STATED IT WAS ON MY DRIVING AND NOT THE BRAKES. IT CONTINUES FROM THE FIRST BRAKE SERVICE TILL TODAY. IF YOU WANT ANY MORE OF THE SERVICE HISTORY I DO HAVE IT IF YOU NEED IT. 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *TR

NHTSA ODI 11047682

Oct 26, 2017Engine

RAV4 W/15,500MI... ENGINE PAUSE. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY WITH NO WARNING. THE ENGINE DEFINITELY SLOWS DOWN AND YOU THINK IT IS GOING TO STOP BUT WHEN YOU HIT THE ACCELERATOR IT RESUMES SPEED. IT IS FRIGHTENING AS THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL RESUME SPEED. IT PAUSES FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE 3 OR 4 SECONDS. IT HAS HAPPENED 4 OR 5 TIMES,TRYING TO GET ON A HIGHWAY..AROUND TOWN, YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11040020

Oct 20, 2017EngineFire

RAV4 2014 CAUGHT A FIRE WHEN WAS DRIVEN. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SUDDENLY STUCK WHEN WAS DRIVEN ON THE LOCAL ROAD AT SPEED LESS THAN 40 MILES, SO PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER ON THE ROAD. SUDDENLY THE SMOKES CAME OUT UNDER THE HOOD, AND TURN TO FLAME. THE CAR BURNED ALL FRONT WINDSHIELD, ENGINE, BATTERY, AND HOOD. FIRE TRUCK COMES UP AND POLICEMAN HELP TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. IT WAS NO ACCIDENT, NO HIGH SPEED ON LOCAL ROAD, AND NO RAINNING DAY.

NHTSA ODI 11034782

Sep 25, 2017Engine

WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, AS I WAS COASTING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, I INEXPLICABLY HEARD MY ENGINE RACE AT AN ALARMING PITCH AND ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY MY CAR ACCELERATED AT AN UNPRECEDENTED RATE. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD AND MY VEHICLE CAME TO A SCREECHING STOP AFTER TRAVELING A FEW FEET.

NHTSA ODI 11025455

Jul 10, 2017Body & structure

THE PAINT ON THE TOP OF THE CAR IS PEELING.

NHTSA ODI 11004137

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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 →