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 7 of 13

Mar 3, 2021SteeringElectrical systemEngine

CAR RANDOMLY SHUT OFF ON MONDAY OF THIS YEAR.ALSO THE RADIO IS DEFECTIVE AND CAR TRY'S TO SWITCH GEARS WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11398917

Mar 2, 2021Electrical systemFire

THE CAR WAS RUNNING ON THE STREET IN THE CITY WHEN IT SUDDENLY STOPPED, FIRE AND SMOKE ROSE FROM THE BATTERY'S SIDE. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT MOVE, AND HAD TO CALL THE TOW TRUCK TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE WITNESSES.

NHTSA ODI 11398820

Feb 10, 2021SteeringElectrical system

DRIVING NORMAL, MADE A RIGHT TURN AND CAR SUDDENLY RESTARTS, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP DURING TURN FOR A COUPLE SECONDS. ELECTRIC RESTART ENGINE AND TURNS OFF THE CAR AND CANNOT GAS IT, ONLY BRAKE. CAR COMES BACK ON WITHOUT ME TURNING IT ON AND DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN REST OF THE DRIVE. DRIVING NORMAL FOR A FEW DAYS, HAPPENS AGAIN, ENGINE RESTARTS AGAIN RANDOMLY WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, SAME EXACT DESCRIPTION AS DESCRIBED PREVIOUSLY. MULTIPLE DATES OF OCCURENCE

NHTSA ODI 11395581

Feb 8, 2021Body & structure

THE PAINT ON THE PANEL ABOVE THE CAR HAS BEGAN TO BUBBLE UP AND TEAR OFF. THE PAINT CONTINUES TO COME OFF. THE PAINT BEGAN COMING OFF IN A CHUNK THAT WAS ABOUT 2' BY 3'.

NHTSA ODI 11395162

Jan 24, 2021SteeringElectrical systemEngine

DRIVING NORMAL, MADE A RIGHT TURN AND CAR SUDDENLY RESTARTS, STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP DURING TURN FOR A COUPLE SECONDS. ELECTRIC RESTART ENGINE AND TURNS OFF THE CAR AND CAN'T GAS IT, ONLY BRAKE. CAR COMES BACK ON WITHOUT ME TURNING IT ON AND DOES NOT HAPPEN AGAIN REST OF THE DRIVE. DRIVING NORMAL FOR 2 DAYS AND ON THE 3RD DAY, ENGINE RESTARTS AGAIN RANDOMLY WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, SAME EXACT DESCRIPTION AS DESCRIBED PREVIOUSLY. DRIVEN CAR FOR A DAY AND INCIDENT HASN'T REPEATED YET. BUT, NOW NOT SURE IF THIS AFFECTED IT, SENSORS OF CAR DOOR OPEN SIGN IS ON WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF AND ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS ARE IN PLACE FOR LOCKING. ONLY WHEN CAR IS OFF AND I CANNOT FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI 11389673

Jan 10, 2021Electrical systemAirbagsBody & structureCrash

I WAS ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM A STOP SIGN AND COLLIDED WITH A BLACK CAR AT NIGHT THAT DID NOT HAVE IT'S HEADLIGHTS ON. THEIR AIR BAG DEPLOYED, - MINE DID NOT. CITY OF RALEIGH, NC. STREETS.

NHTSA ODI 11387408

Jan 10, 2021Electrical systemBody & structureCrash

I WAS ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM A STOP SIGN AND COLLIDED WITH A BLACK CAR AT NIGHT TIME THAT DID NO HAVE IT'S HEADLIGHTS ON. CITY OF RALEIGH, NC. STREETS.

NHTSA ODI 11387405

Dec 2, 2020Body & structure

THE POWER LIFTGATE OF THIS MODEL FAILS TO OPEN IN COLD WEATHER. DIFFICULT TO OPEN AND CLOSE WHEN UTILIZING THE MANUAL OVER-RIDE BUTTON.

NHTSA ODI 11377575

Nov 12, 2020Body & structure

LIFT GATE STRUT IS CAUSING MISALIGNMENT OF THE LIFT GATE, SO LIFT GATE SHIFTING AND UNABLE TO OPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11374381

Nov 10, 2020Electrical systemLights

THE DOM LIGHTS FUSE KEEPS BLOWING. IT APPEARS TO HAVE A SHORT BUT SOME TIMES THE FUSE TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO BLOW. YESTERDAY I TRIED TO REPLACE THE FUSE THREE TIMES, AND THREE FUSES WERE BLOWN IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA ODI 11374069

Sep 29, 2020Steering

I WENT TO START MY CAR AND THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. TOWED TO SHOP AND THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG AND IT STARTS RIGHT UP. CONCERNED THE POWER STEERING WILL GO OUT WHILE I AM DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11361664

Sep 24, 2020

MY CAR HAS 123,000 MILES I TAKE GREAT CARE OF IT I JUST HAD TO PUT A GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY IN TO THE TUNE OF 1100.00. MY TIRES WERE NOT RIDING WELL AND HE FOUND IT

NHTSA ODI 11360951

Sep 4, 2020Transmission & drivetrainBrakesCrash

PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV. PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND CAR WAS PUT IN HISH SPEED REVERSE CAUSING CAR TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11353140

Aug 26, 2020Brakes

2015 RAV4 WITH LESS THAN 8,000 MILES. ON I-5 FREEWAY AT ABOUT 70MPH TRAFFIC SLOWED, I APPLIED BRAKES AND A RAPID THUMPING SOUND CAME ON FOLLOWED BY A SHAKING THAT SEEMED TO BE FROM FRONT LEFT OF CAR. WAS ON A THOUSAND MILE FAMILY EMERGENCY TRIP. WHENEVER I APPLIED BRAKES AT FREEWAY SPEED THE SAME THING HAPPENED. MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BY PHONE SAID IT MIGHT BE WARPED DISC.

NHTSA ODI 11351362

Jul 10, 2020

REAR HATCH STRUT SEIZED AND BROKE CAUSING REAR HATCH DOOR TO NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY, REMOTE AND DOOR RELEASE IN CAR INOPERABLE. I HAD MY CAR SERVICED AND ADVISOR EXPLAINED THAT WATER (FROM WEATHER) CAUSED RUST AND LEFT STRUT BROKE. THE RIGHT STRUT IS CORRODED BADLY AND RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE AS WELL. TOTAL COST WOULD BE 1386.00 INCLUDED LEFT STRUT PART (427.00), RIGHT STRUT PART (739.00) AND ABOUT 200.00 IN LABOR. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE FOR COMPLAINS AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS AND THEIR WARRANTY WAS 3YR/3000 MILES WHICH DID NOT APPLY TO MY SITUATION. I CALLED MULTIPLE TOYOTA PARTS DEPTS, SOME OUT OF STATE TO COMPARE PRICES AND THEY REMAINED THE SAME. ONE PARTS EMPLOYEE INFORMED ME THAT THIS PART I NEEDED TO PROVIDE MY VIN NUMBER BECAUSE THESE STRUTS SUPPLY IS SPARSE AND THEY NEEDED TO SUPPLY LOCAL CUSTOMERS. I ASKED WHY THERE WASN'T A RECALL AND HE AGREED THAT THERE SHOULD BE ONE. AGREED THAT THE DESIGN IS POOR AND EXPECTATION TO LUBRICATE JOINTS TO PREVENT WATER DAMAGE ( WHICH WAS NOT IN ANY OF MY MAINTENANCE MANUELS.). I HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I PURCHASED MY NEW RAV4 AND ADVISOR CALLED AND PRESENTED PICTURES, THE CLAIM WAS DENIED.

NHTSA ODI 11338536

Jun 25, 2020SteeringElectrical system

I WAS EXITING A HIGHWAY ON A CURVE (EST. 40MPH) WHEN MY POWER STEERING FAILED INSTANTLY JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. AT THE SAME TIME ALL OF MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. I HAVE A TOYOTA RAV4 2015. THERE HAVE BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS DESCRIPTION BUT NOT ON MY VIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330901

Jun 12, 2020Speed controlBrakesCrash

SUA INCIDENT - COASTING BEFORE ENTERING GARAGE AS USUAL WITH MY RIGHT FOOT ON FLOOR AND NOT ENGAGED WITH ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE. UPON ENTERING THE GARAGE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, NATURALLY SHOCKING/BAFFLING ME, AS I HAD ALREADY STARTED BRAKING AND CONTINUED TO DO THAT TO NO AVAIL AS CAR PROCEEDED TO HIT BACK WALL OF THE GARAGE WHERE ACCELERATION STOPPED,CAR CAME TO REST. I NEVER DRIVE WITH TWO FEET AND AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND BRAKE WAS NOT RESPONDING. ALSO CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE WITH THE SAME SOUND AS IT NORMALLY WOULD IF I PRESSED THE GAS PEDDLE. IT ACCELERATED MORE LIKE IT WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL...VERY SMOOTH AND STEADY. ACTUALLY I'M GRATEFUL THE WALL WASN'T FAR AWAY SO IT DIDN'T ACCELERATE FURTHER. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED JUNE 11,2020 AT AROUND 10 AM. DO NOT KNOW REASON FOR SUA, BUT WILL NOTE THAT WE HAD THE GARAGE DOOR SENSORS REPOSITIONED ON JUNE 10. I'M NOTING THAT BECAUSE WHERE THEY ARE IS ABOUT WHEN I FELT ACCELERATION STARTING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328441

Jun 9, 2020Speed controlCrash

WHILE SLOWLY PULLING INTO OWNERS GARAGE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH HIGH WHINING SOUND. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO GARAGE WALL AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. FRONT END COMPLETELY DESTROYED, DOORS DO NOT OPEN, RADIATOR LEAKING AND GARAGE CABINET DESTROYED. INSURANCE COMPANY NOTIFIED. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE HAS 31,300 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327926

May 7, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS MY CARS EPS LIGHT WILL COME ON AFTER PUTTING MY CAR INTO REVERSE THE CAR DOES NOT CONNECT AND GOES INTO NEUTRAL INSTEAD CAUSING THE CAR TO ROLL FORWARD CREATING HAZARDS BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ON HILLS AND FLAT AREAS. I THEN HAVE TO PUT MY CAR INTO PARK, TURN IT OFF AND RESTART THE CAR TO GET THE CAR TO GO INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TOYOTA BUT THEY WON?T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT UNDER RECALL. STARTING IN 2019 I STARTED NOTICING FLAKES OF PAINT IN CRACKS OF DOORWAYS AND CREASES OF THE CAR. LAST MONTH A BIG PIECE OF PAINT STARTED COMING OFF THE TOP OF MY CAR IN FRONT OF MY SUNROOF. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323615

Apr 27, 2020Steering

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS AND MAKING A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 20-25 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRIC POWER STEERING CUT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE STEERING BECAME EXTREMELY HEAVY WITH NO ASSIST. THE RED STEERING WHEEL ICON LITE UP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED AND LUCKILY I DID NOT HAVE MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11322348

Apr 21, 2020Fuel system

CAR WILL NOT START ON 1ST TRY. IT MAY START 2ND OR 3RD TIME WHILE HOLDING GAS PEDDLE TO THE FLOOR. LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. SOUNDS LIKE CHANGING GEARS ON A MANUAL. CAR HAS LESS THAN 50K MILES

NHTSA ODI 11321859

Apr 13, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA OF SOMERSET (4195 S HWY 27, SOMERSET, KY 42501) AND GAMBREL TOYOTA(311 W CUMBERLAND GAP PKWY, CORBIN, KY 40701), HOWEVER, THE MECHANICS WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA ODI 11320981

Mar 3, 2020Electrical systemEngineFire

SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING WITH NO ISSUES, THE PARKED CAR STARTED TO SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. WITHIN SECONDS, A LARGE FIRE HAD STARTED WHICH COMPLETELY CONSUMED THE CAR AND ALSO SPREAD TO MY WIFE'S CAR AND THE HOUSE'S CARPORT. INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR INFORMED US THAT THE FIRE LIKELY STARTED IN/NEAR THE ENGINE TOWARDS THE DRIVERS SIDE BASED ON WHERE THE HOTTEST PARTS OF THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN. HOWEVER, NO CONCLUSIVE DETERMINATION WAS MADE REGARDING THE CAUSE. THE CAR WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND HAD NOT HAD ANY MAINTENANCE WORK PERFORMED ON IT RECENTLY. THERE WERE ALSO NO SIGNS OF INTRUSION BY RODENTS OR OTHER ANIMALS. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. I'VE ALSO SINCE LEARNED THIS HAD HAPPENED ONLY ONE MONTH BEFORE TO THE PARENTS OF ONE OF OUR CHILDRENS' FRIENDS. THEY ALSO HAD A RAV4, ALTHOUGH NOT THE SAME MODEL YEAR (I BELIEVE IT WAS A 2013). I HAVE ALSO SEEN MANY OTHER REPORTS WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE. IF THERE IS A DEFECT OR DESIGN FLAW CONTRIBUTING TO THESE FIRES, IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED QUICKLY!

NHTSA ODI 11315799

Feb 25, 2020Electrical systemFire

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ENTRANCE RAMP WHEN THE BATTERY DIED BUT THEN I WAS ABLE TO START IT BACK AND DROVE JUST A SHORT DISTANCE WHEN THE HOOD STARTED SMOKING. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE MOTOR OFF AND RAISED THE HOOD, AND THE BATTERY WAS ON FIRE. THE BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED.

NHTSA ODI 11311546

Feb 18, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

HESITATES BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR LIKE GOING INTO NUETRAL FOR ABOUT 3 / 5 SECONDS BEFORE SHIFTING BACK TO FIRST. THE CAR CAN BE AT A STOP UPON STARTING IT HESITATES, OR WHEN IN MOTION AND GOING TO PASS IT HESITATES, ON CITY STREETS, HIGHWAYS AND TURNING. WE HAVE RETURNED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER 4 TIMES AND THEY DROVE THE CAR AND STATED NOTHING WRONG. THE FOURTH TIME IN I DROVE THE CAR WITH A MECHANIC AND HE WITNESS THE HESITATION, THEN THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. IN RESEARCHING ON LINE WE FOUND COMPLAINTS GOING BACK TO 2006 AND NOTHING BEING DONE. WHY IS TOYOTA GETTING AWAY WITH THIS. WE KNOW IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ALL TOYOTA'S AS WE HAD A 2008 AND IT WAS PERFECT. WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND NUMEROUS TIMES AND SCARY WHEN PULLING OUT TO PASS, YOU NEVER KNOW IF THE CAR WILL TAKE OFF. CAR WAS BOUGHT USED WITH 35000 MILES ON IT IN JUNE OF 2018 AND CERTIFIED NOTHING WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ODI 11309940

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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 →