Home · 2015 Toyota RAV4 Hv · Complaints

What 302 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 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 (302)Crash / fire / injury (80)Electrical system (84)Steering (45)Engine (37)Brakes (31)Body & structure (30)Transmission & drivetrain (25)Speed control (21)Airbags (15)Fuel system (13)Visibility & wipers (8)

Newest first · 302 complaints · page 10 of 13

Oct 1, 2017AirbagsCrash1 injury

WHEN I GOT INTO A CAR ACCIDENT MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T COME OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11030741

Jun 25, 2017

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM AS A SAFETY DEVICE. TOYOTA SELLS VEHICLES WITH OUTDATED MAPS AND CHARGES OVER $200 FOR UPGRADES, WHICH DEALERS ARE RELUCTANT TO PROVIDE. I CONSIDER ACCURATE MAPS A SAFETY CONCERN AND I SUGGEST THAT MAP UPDATES SHOULD BE PROVIDED ON AT LEAST AN ANNUAL BASIS AT A NOMINAL (,$25) FEE. THE GARMIN POLICY WOULD BE A BENCHMARK. RIGHT NOW, MY GPS IS USELESS; CANNOT BE TRUSTED, AND MAY LEAD ME ASTRAY AS IT IS NOT CURRENT. TIS IS A SAFETY ITEM.

NHTSA ODI 11001268

Jun 21, 2017Lights

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FALMOUTH TOYOTA (LOCATED ON 290 MACARTHUR BLVD, BOURNE, MA 02532), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/24/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI 11000377

Jun 21, 2017Speed controlCrash

I WAS PULLING IN A PARKING SPACE AT THE BACK OF THE BUILDING IN WHICH I WORKED. I TURNED RIGHT INTO MY SPACE GOING ABOUT IDLE SPEED. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO MOVE INTO THE SPACE WHEN IT TOOK OFF AND WENT INTO THE BUILDING. I MISSED THE SENSOR BY A QUARTER OF AN INCH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLORE. I HAD THE BLACK BOX READ BY TOYOTA AND THEN THEY NEVER CALLED ME BACK TO EXPLAIN THE "BOOK" OF PAPERS THAT GAVE ALL SORTS OF INFORMATION WHICH I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND. AFTER ABOUT TWO OR THREE MONTHS IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND CAME TO A FOUR WAY STOP ON A CITY STREET. WHEN IT LET UP OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR TOOK OFF AND SINCE HE HAD ABOUT A HALF MILE OF STREET HE LET IT GO. IT TOOK HIM AT 40 MPH FOR THE WHOLE WAY. HE HAD TROUBLE WHEN HE HIT THE BRAKE TO MAKE IT STOP. HE HAD TO PUMP THEM SEVERAL TIMES. THIS CAR HAD DONE THIS 7 OR 8 TIMES TO US. WE TALKED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND BECAUSE IT WAS LEASED THEY COULDN'T HELP. SO WE HAVE KEPT THE CAR AND I DRIVE IT WITH MY HAND ON THE GEAR SHIFT AND WHEN PULLING INTO PARKING SPACES I KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND SOMETIMES PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL. I FEEL THIS CAR IS VERY DEFECTIVE. TOYOTA HAS READ THE BLACK BOX TWICE AND NEVER GOT BACK TO US TO EXPLAIN IF THEY KNOW WHY THIS DOES THIS THE CRASH CAUSED 8000 TO THE CAR AND 16000 TO THE BUILDNG

NHTSA ODI 11000496

Jun 19, 2017

WHEN USING AIR CONDITIONING MOLD ACCUMULATES ON THE CONDENSER DUE TO WATER NOT DRYING OUT AND THAT MOLD/MILDEW IS THEN BLOWN THRU VENTS WHEN TURNING AIR CONDITIONING ON AND I AM INHALING TOXIC MOLD. TOYOTA IS AWARE THEY'VE HAD THOUSANDS OF INTERNET COMPLAINTS AND AT DEAL ON HVAC AND REFUSE TO CALL IT A DEFECT DESPITE THE HEALTH HAZARD EFFECT. APPARENTLY CAMRY HAS CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT STARTED RE: THIS. I FEAR FOR MY HEALTH WITH THIS AND OTHERS IN MY CAR SMELL THIS AS WELL. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED CAR AND BCD AND FORTH TO DEALER.

NHTSA ODI 11000090

Jun 5, 2017Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (TOYOTA OF MANHATTAN; 645 11TH AVE, NEW YORK, NY 10036; (866) 386-5003) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES AFTER THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER APPROXIMATELY THREE DIFFERENT TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500. ..UPDATED 07/24/17 *BF UPDATED 12/1/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 10993265

May 9, 2017Brakes

THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS TOTALLY LOCKED (CAN'T PRESS DOWN AT ALL) WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT 9:45AM ON 5/6/2017. I CAN'T SLOWDOWN MY CAR. I SWITCHED THE SHIFT FROM DRIVING TO PARKING, TURNED OFF THE CAR, THEN THE CAR STOPPED.

NHTSA ODI 10984400

May 9, 2017Steering

THE STEERING MECHANISM ON THIS VEHICLE HAS FROZEN TWICE. THE DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE SO SENT ON OUR WAY DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE RECALLS ON THIS MODEL TOYOTA. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ON I-20 AND ON 5TH STREET BRIDGE. TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING IGNITION TEMPORARILY RESOLVES ISSUE. BOTH TIMES OCCURRED ON RELATIVELY STRAIGHT ROADS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT IN ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM

NHTSA ODI 10984483

May 2, 2017Crash

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE IN DRIVEWAY WHICH CAUSED MY CAR TO CAREEN INTO A WOOD SHED AND MY HUSBAND'S CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY.

NHTSA ODI 10983025

Apr 10, 2017Visibility & wipers

SUNROOF EXPLODED. DRIVING DOWN PAVED HIGHWAY. 51 DEGREES OUTSIDE. GLASS SHATTERED. NO ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT FOUND INSIDE THE CAR. WASHINGTON STATE PATROL ON SCENE.

NHTSA ODI 10971764

Apr 4, 2017

I HAVE A MILDEW/MOLD SMELL COMING FROM MY AIR VENTS IN THE CABIN EVERY TIME I TURN ON MY CAR AIR CONDITIONING UNIT. STARTED AT 4000 MILES. WENT TO THE DEALER TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE HOWEVER THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FIX IT. I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS THIS PROBLEM. MANY AC MOLD/MILDEW ISSUES WERE FOUND IN MANY RAV4 FORUM. EXPOSURE TO SUCH SMELLS AND MOLD IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND CAN LEAD TO SICKNESS AND OTHER HEALTH RELATED ISSUES. TOYOTA HIT WITH CLASS ACTION WITH DEFECTIVE AC UNIT BEFORE.

NHTSA ODI 10970395

Mar 2, 2017Body & structure

CPSC:THE WIRING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF MY 2015 TOYOTA RAV4 THAT CONTROLS INFORMATION SENT TO THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHEWED THROUGH BY SQUIRRELS. THE CAR WAS LOCATED IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT WRAPPINGS AROUND THESE WIRES ARE NO LONGER RUBBER. *BF

NHTSA ODI 10958170

Feb 21, 2017

MICE HAVE CHEWED THROUGH THE PLASTIC SCREEN OVER THE FRESH AIR INTAKE AND ENTERED MY RAV 4, SHREDDING EVERYTHING IN MY GLOVE BOX, SHREDDING THE CABIN AIR FILTER AND LEAVING FECES AND URINE THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE (SEATS, FLOOR BOARDS, CLOSED COMPARTMENT WHERE SPARE TIRE IS KEPT AND OTHER AREAS UNKNOWN/UNABLE TO SEE BY ME) DEALER WAS CONTACTED, RAV WAS TAKEN IN AND DEALER WAS INITIALLY GOING TO INSTALL A METAL SCREEN TO PREVENT REENTRY BY RODENTS-WAS QUOTED $185. UPON THE MECHANIC INSPECTION, WE WERE TOLD THAT "PER TOYOTA GUIDELINES" THEY COULD NOT/ WOULD NOT INSTALL A BARRIER TO PREVENT RODENTS FROM GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AS MICE CARRY HANTAVIRUS AND BOTH MY HUSBAND AND I COULD HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THIS TERRIBLE ILLNESS AS RODENT WASTE WAS MADE AIRBORNE WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE INFESTATION INTO THE VENTILATING SYSTEM. TOYOTA SHOULD MAKE THE FRESH AIR INTAKE IMPENETRABLE BY RODENTS. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE COMPUTER AND FIND THAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS DISGUSTING PROBLEM. SOME DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SCREEN AND OTHERS WILL NOT. THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE FOUR OTHER VEHICLES AND NONE OF THEM HAVE ANY RODENT INFESTATION.

NHTSA ODI 10956145

Feb 18, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE CAR PARKED IN MY HOME DRIVEWAY, WIRES UNDER CAR CHEWED THROUGH BY SQUIRRELS. ALMOST RUINED THE TRANSMISSION. MY DOUBLE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS APPARENTLY A TOYOTA FACTORY CHOICE TO MAKE THE WIRE COATINGS ATTRACTIVE TO RODENTS.

NHTSA ODI 10955410

Feb 15, 2017AirbagsSpeed controlBrakesCrash

AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING LOT, I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN I MOVED MY GEARSHIFT INTO THE PARK POSITION, MY CAR JUMPED THE CURB AND DROVE INTO MY EXTERIOR WALL. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE CAR THEN STARTED DRIVING BACKWARDS AT AN ACCELERATING SPEED. AFTER JUMPING BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT, I CRASHED INTO A CAR PARKED BEHIND ME, WHICH MADE THE CAR FINALLY STOP. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING EITHER COLLISION. BY THE END, THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TOTALED.

NHTSA ODI 10954930

Jan 27, 2017Visibility & wipers

TAKATA RECALL THE SUNROOF ON MY TOYOTA RAV 4 EXPLODED. IT WAS A RAINY DAY AND I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK(REDLANDS) ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG. I PULLED THE SHADE TO FIND MY SUNROOF HAD A HUGE HOLE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE. NO GLASS CAME DOWN BUT IT LOOK LIKE IT EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE. TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER THE DAMAGES. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT WILL COST ME $1000. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE THIS COULD BE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10948037

Jan 23, 2017Fuel system

HI, I HAVE A 2015 RAV 4 PURCHASED 9/2015, NEW AND ONLY OWNER...OUT OF NOWHERE JAN. 2017...THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY...ON HWY AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-70MPH AND WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS NOTHING...HAD TO REMOVE FOOT AND PRESS THE GAS AGAIN FOR THE CAR TO ENGAGE AND STAY AT ITS PROPER SPEED. TOYOTA DEALER COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE. JAN. 14TH....THE ISSUE STARTED AGAIN AND I RETURNED IT TO DEALER 1/21 AND STATED ISSUE WAS NOT FIXED...NOW HAPPENING BETWEEN 20-40MPH TOO. DOES NOT OCCUR ALL OF THE TIME AND YET CONSIST ENOUGH THAT IT IS SCARY TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI 10946948

Dec 15, 2016Visibility & wipers

I FILLED THE WIPER FLUID AND IN 24 HOURS WITHOUT TOUCHING THE IGNITION OR TURNING ON THE WIPERS OR FLUID TO SPRAY, OVERNIGHT IN 24 HOURS THE NECK (TOP) PORTION OF THE WIPER FLUID WAS EMPTY. THE CAR WAS NOT TOUCHED. I AM TRYING TO GET A SUPER ANALYSIS/EXPLANATION AND REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 10935431

Nov 28, 2016SteeringBrakesCrash1 injury

VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING (POSSIBLE STALLING, LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE), RESULTING IN A SEVERE CRASH INVOLVING TWO PARKED CARS AND PROPERTY, INJURY TO DRIVER, AND TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED GOING DOWN HILL DUE TO HAVING NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. BECAUSE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO STOP, THE VEHICLE RAN TWO STOP SIGNS. THE CRASH RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE CRASHING INTO TWO PARKED CARS, "JUMPING" THOSE VEHICLES AND RUNNING INTO A HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TWICE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY FOR STALLING. OCCASION 1 (14K MILES): VEHICLE STALLED AT STOPLIGHT AND KEY LIGHT WAS FLASHING. ERROR CODES P1605 AND P219A AT THE TIME. OCCASION 2 (16K MILES): VEHICLE STALLED TWICE WHILE STOPPED, ON THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS SHAKY AT THE STOPLIGHT AND MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, CODE P1605 (2ND REPAIR). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928436

Oct 31, 2016SteeringBrakesCrash

POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND BRAKES FAILED , DURING AN EVASIVE MANEUVER ..ON OR 11. 2015 : WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED A TREE

NHTSA ODI 10920262

Oct 27, 2016Body & structureCrash1 injury

TAKATA RECALL. I WOULD LIKE MORE INVESTIGATION REGARDING WHEN A CAR IS REPAIR PER SPECIFICATION AND STATE LAW. HOW IS THAT A COMPANY TAKE CONTROL OF THE VALUE AND HISTORY OF THE CAR. BUT IS NOT REPORTED THE CORRECT WAY WHEN THE REPAIR IS DONE. AFFECTING THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10919727

Aug 13, 2016Engine

I HAVE BOUGHT RAV 4 AWD XLE 2015 IN JULY, 2015. IT STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS WITHIN 1 YEAR. I WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER 3 -4 TIMES TO FIX IT. HE EVEN REPLACED TRANSAXLE AND SOME BOLTS AND PUT SOME ENGINE OIL IN IT BUT AGAIN I GOT ALL THESE ENGINE LIGHTS ON MY CAR DISPLAY BOARD. EVERYTIME, NO. OF LIGHTS ARE INCREASING N THE DISPLAY BOARD. SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIX THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SUDDENLY CAR BECAME SLUGGISH ON THE HIGHWAY, NOT PICKING UP THE SPEED. SO SCARED TO DRIVE A DEFECTIVE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. SPECIALLY WHEN PROBLEM IS IN YOUR CAR ENGINE.(ENGINE LIGHT ON, TRACK OFF ON, A/T OIL TEMP ON, AWD ON ,) WHAT ELSE LEFT IN THE CAR. REALLY FUSTERATED AND DANGEROUS. EVERYTIME NEW LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF.

NHTSA ODI 10895584

Aug 12, 2016Fuel system

POOR FUEL ECONOMY GETTING 17MPG

NHTSA ODI 10895323

Jul 19, 2016Visibility & wipers

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF OF THE VEHICLE SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE PRIOR TO THE SHATTERING OF THE SUN ROOF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ODI 10885827

Jul 18, 2016Fuel system

ON JUNE 13, 2016, I NOTICED MY GAS TANK WAS FULL, AFTER IT WAS TANK THE DAY BEFORE. SO, I THOUGHT MY HUSBAND HAD FILLED IT UP BEFORE HE LEFT FOR HIS BUSINESS TRIP THAT MORNING. TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEK, I NOTICED THE TANK WAS STILL FULL, SO I KNEW SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT. SPOKE TO MY HUSBAND WHO HAD THEN CONFIRMED THAT HE DID NOT FILL UP THE TANK BEFORE HE LEFT. WENT TO THE GAS STATION AND IT COST ME $34.00 DOLLARS TO FILL IT UP, I ALMOST RAN OUT OF GAS! I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO A BAD ACCIDENT IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY! TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE EITHER THE FLOATER OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN RODENTS NIBBLING AT THE WIRES, BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD HAD THAT EXPERIENCE ALREADY. ANYWAY, OF COURSE IT ENDS OF BEING THE RODENTS. SO, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO GET MORE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND A LOAD OF INFORMATION. APPARENTLY, THIS IS CONTRIBUTED TO TOYOTA'S MOVE TO ECO-FRIENDLY ORGANIC WIRING INSULATOR COMPOUNDS THAT ATTRACT RODENTS AS A FOOD SOURCE! THIS IS CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA CAR OWNERS. I HAVE A RAV4 2010 WHICH IS KEPT INSIDE AND THIS SITUATION HAS NEVER HAPPENED. THIS 2015 RAV4, WHICH IS GARAGE KEPT, RODENTS SEEM TO ENJOY. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED WIRING DAMAGE BY MUNCHING RODENTS, WHICH IS NOT COVERED UNDER TOYOTA WARRANTY - A VERY EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION. NOT TO MENTION A SAFETY HAZARD, HAD I RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY! LAST WEEK, IT COST ME $611.51, HOW MUCH WILL IT COST ME THE NEXT TIME WHEN THEY MUNCH ON ANOTHER PART OF THE CAR?

NHTSA ODI 10885439

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Working with the data? Download all 302 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 2015 Toyota RAV4 Hv verdict →