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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)

45 of 302 complaints match · Steering · clear filters · page 2 of 2

May 20, 2019Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,720.

NHTSA ODI 11208738

Mar 4, 2019Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ODI 11183988

Aug 7, 2018SteeringSuspension

STEERING WHEEL MAKES A STRANGE NOISE WHEN TURNING AND THE SUSPENSION SEEMS TO BE OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11118337

Dec 7, 2017SteeringBrakesEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE KEY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DCH FREEHOLD TOYOTA (4268 U.S. 9 S, FREEHOLD, NJ 07728), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND OPENED A CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000.

NHTSA ODI 11052980

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

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

Jul 7, 2016SteeringAirbagsSpeed controlBrakesCrash3 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE MERGING INTO THE RIGHT LANE, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED LEFT AND ACCELERATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DRIVER DROVE OFF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED TWICE DOWN A SHORT INCLINE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES AND SCRATCHES TO THEIR ELBOWS. THE REAR PASSENGER SUFFERED A CONCUSSION, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 10883451

May 11, 2016Steering

THE CAR WANTS TO PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN ACCELERATING OR,JUST RELEASING THE BRAKE TO COAST.TOYOTA DEALER AND TOYOTA SAID IT IS NORMAL.I NEVER HAD A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR DO THIS.I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE,BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAPPEL ALL THE TIME.THE FRONT END IS ALIGNED CORRECTLY.

NHTSA ODI 10864461

Apr 1, 2016SteeringCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CUT TO THE FACE AND ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500.

NHTSA ODI 10852963

Dec 23, 2015SteeringBrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, A VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND AS THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY, RELEASING A CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED ARM, LEGS AND WHIPLASH INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 04/07/16*LJ...UPDATED 12/06/16 *BF UPDATED 03/09/17.*JB

NHTSA ODI 10811893

Sep 20, 2015Steering

THREE MONTHS AGO I RECEIVED NOTICE FOR RECALL ON STEERING, CALLED BERNARDI TOYOTA AND MADE APPT. GOT THERE AND THEY SAID MACHINE WAS DOWN AND COULDN'T DO IT. MADE ANOTHER APPT. AND THEY SAID THE MACHINE COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE OF LABEL NOT BEING ORIGINAL. MY SIDE DOOR HAD BEEN HIT SO THE LABEL WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. TECH'S WOULD LOOK INTO THE MATTER, AN LET ME KNOW, I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR MY REGULAR CHECK UP AUG 10TH 2015 AND ASKED ABOUT THE MATTER AND WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY BECAUSE MOST LIKELY THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO LET THEM KNOW. WELL ON SEPT.3, 2015 TOOK A RIDE TO CAPE COD FROM HUDSON MASS. WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO START BACK TO HUDSON FROM THE CAPE MY STEERING LET GO. COULD NOT MOVE THE CAR, CALLED FALMOUTH TOYOTA AND THEY SAID TRY AND DRIVE IT TO THEM WHICH WAS ABOUT THREE MILE, I DID AN THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL AND FIXED THE CAR IN A WEEK. QUESTION IS , HOW COME THEY COULD FIX IT IN A WEEK AND BERNARDI DIDN'T DO IT IN MOUTHS? I WAS LUCKY IT WASN'T SERIOUS, I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT BERNARDI'S SERVICE. I AND MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT ALONG WITH PEOPLE ON THE HIGHWAY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR*JB

NHTSA ODI 10765333

Jul 29, 2015SteeringWheelsBrakes

I PURCHASE THE RAV4 IN OCTOBER 2015, AND THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A CRUNCHING SOUND COMING FROM MY BRAKES AND A FLUCTUATION ISSUE WHERE THE BRAKES DO NOT ALWAYS CATCH CAUSING A SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALER AND TOYOTA ARE REFUSING ON TWO OCCASIONS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AGAIN ON 7/28/2015 IN HOPES THAT THEY WILL FINALLY FIX THE ISSUE. THE DEALER WILL NOT DOCUMENT THE ISSUE!

NHTSA ODI 10744552

Jun 10, 2015Steering

TOYOTA ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL THAT AFFECTS POTENTIALLY 46,000 VEHICLES AND TOYOTA ESTIMATES THAT 20,000 WILL NEED TO HAVE A STEERING PART REPLACED. THE LETTER FROM TOYOTA ADVISES CAR OWNERS THAT IT WILL TAKE 1.5 HOURS TO INSPECT AND 2.5 HOURS TO REPLACE THE PART. AFTER AN ENTIRE DAY AT THE DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY, MY CAR HAS NOT HAD THE STEERING PART REPLACED AND TOYOTA IS UNABLE TO TELL ME WHEN THEY WILL HAVE THE PART FOR THEIR OWN RECALL! I CALLED FORDHAM TOYOTA LAST WEEK TO MAKE AN SAFETY RECALL APPOINTMENT. I TOOK MY CAR IN YESTERDAY (TUESDAY, JUNE 9) AT 8:30. WHEN I PICKED IT UP AT 2:30, THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED THE PART, BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE IT. NO SENSE OF HOW RIDICULOUS IT IS TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A RECALL REPAIR WITHOUT EVEN HAVING THE PART AVAILABLE. NOR THE WORRY THIS CAUSES ME TO KNOW THAT I AM DRIVING MY DAUGHTER AROUND IN A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE WHERE OUR SAFETY IS COMPROMISED. I CALLED TOYOTA CENTRAL TO ASK IF THEY MIGHT FACILITATE HAVING A DIFFERENT DEALER (MANHATTAN TOYOTA) DO THE RECALL REPAIR. AFTER NUMEROUS CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFERENT TOYOTA EMPLOYEES (INCLUDING MANHATTAN TOYOTA), I WAS ADVISED THAT THE PROCEDURE IS THAT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INSPECTS THE VEHICLE, THEN ORDERS THE PART AND THAT IT TAKES 2 DAYS TO GET THE PART. AND THAT IF I WANTED TO HAVE MANHATTAN TOYOTA DO THE RECALL REPAIR, I WOULD FIRST NEED TO HAVE THEM INSPECT THE VEHICLE - MEANING ANOTHER TWO DAY ADVENTURE. HAVING GOTTEN NO RESOLUTION FROM THE CENTRAL TOYOTA CARE LINE OR MANHATTAN TOYOTA, I DECIDED TO CALL FORDHAM TOYOTA TO REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT FOR SATURDAY MORNING (2 DAYS FROM NOW, ENOUGH TIME FOR THEM TO GET THE PART),I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NEED THE CAR ALL DAY ON SATURDAY (NOT 2.5 HOURS AS STATED IN THE TOYOTA LETTER), BUT THAT THEY NEED TO FIRST RECEIVE THE PART. I WAS TOLD THEY WILL CALL ME WHEN THEY GET IT.

NHTSA ODI 10724492

Jun 10, 2015Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIRS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10724540

Jun 4, 2015Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10723367

Jun 3, 2015Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE A RECALL REPAIR WITHIN A REASONABLE TIMEFRAME. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10723153

May 27, 2015Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10721736

May 15, 2015Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15VI44000 (STEERING) WAS RECEIVED IN MARCH OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10716667

May 14, 2015Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING) AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.. WHEN THE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT SEND ANY AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR A REPAIR UNTIL THE DEALER SENT PHOTOS SHOWING THE NEED FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AGAIN AND CONFIRMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER MADE THAT REQUIREMENT. THE CONTACT FELT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 6/30/15*CN UPDATED 10/17/2017*CN

NHTSA ODI 10716496

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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 →