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 8 of 13

Jan 20, 2020Engine

TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER. ON A TRIP FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO CYPRESS, CA ON THE I-5 FREEWAY CRUISING AT 70 MPH A SUDDEN TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AT LEAST 30 TIMES (THIS WITH ODOMETER IN 6,000 MILE RANGE). I HAD REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO MY TOYOTA DEALER AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES. THEY SAID THEIR TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. AROUND 1/3/2020 I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND SAID I WOULD LEAVE IT THERE UNTIL THEY REPAIRED IT. I PURCHASED AN 8 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY IN OCT., 2014. AFTER. 4 DAYS DEALER CALLED FOR ME TO PICK IT UP. WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, THEIR COMPUTER READ MY CAR COMPUTER AND FOUND THAT WHILE RIGHT FOOT WAS ON GAS AND LEFT FOOT EITHER NEAR OR ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IT OCCURRED. SINCE MY LEFT FOOT WAS RESTING ON MAT WITHOUT ANY MOVEMENT WHY DIDN'T THE LOSS OF POWER HAPPEN CONSTANTLY! THEY SAID IT WAS A SAFETY FEATURE. I SAY IT IS A DANGER.. I HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS & STARTING WHEN SIGNAL TURNS GREEN. ON LINE I HAVE SEEN SAME COMPLAINTS. ONE MECHANIC SUGGESTED IT COULD BE A MASS AIR FLOW CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. ANOTHER SAID IT COULD BE AIR FUEL RATIO SENSOR INTERMITTENTLY FAILING WHICH COULD TEST OK. NOTICE WE ONLY HAVE AROUND 6,000 MILES ON CAR WE BOUGHT IN OCT. 2014 BECAUSE PROBLEM CANNOT BE PREDICTED.

NHTSA ODI 11300449

Jan 15, 2020Electrical system

1ST OCCURRENCE 1/4/2016: DRIVING DOWN AN INTERSTATE WITH SEVERAL LANES GOING SAME DIRECTION AND THE HORN STARTED BLOWING INTERMITTENTLY 2ND OCCURRENCE 2/26/2019: HAD TURNED INTO A PARKING SPACE AND STOPPED WITH MOTOR STILL RUNNING, THEN OPENED DOOR TO CHECK IF I WAS PARKED BETWEEN THE PARKING LINES CORRECTLY AND THE HORN STARTED BLOWING 1ST OCCURRENCE: POOR CONNECTION TO HORN TO THEFT DETERRENT IN SECURITY ALARM 2ND OCCURRENCE: INTERMITTENT OPEN CIRCUIT IN PARKING ALARM HARNESS

NHTSA ODI 11299603

Jan 3, 2020

TWO DOORS (FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS) NO LONG LOCK AND UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB OR THE AUTOMATIC BUTTONS ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. ACCORDING TO OUR MECHANIC, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE (THE LOCK ACTUATOR) WITH TOYOTAS, ESPECIALLY SUVS AROUND 2015 LIKE RAV4S AND HIGHLANDERS. ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS, THE DOOR LOCK ITSELF GOT STUCK AND I HAD TO FIDDLE WITH IT SIMPLE TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY. SURPRISED THIS HASN'T BEEN RECALLED SINCE IT HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR A SAFETY HAZARD. COST TO REPAIR EACH DOOR'S ACTUATOR (BY MECHANIC) IS OVER $500.

NHTSA ODI 11296842

Jan 3, 2020Steering

A CRACKING NOISE IS NOTICE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, WHETHER STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED AT A TOYOTA DEALER AND RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ODI 11296963

Jan 2, 2020Suspension

WHILE IN MOTION THE SUSPENSION MAKES LOTS OF NOISE, IT ALSO FEELS VERY FIRM AND YOU CAN FEEL THE BUMPS ON THE ROAD. IT ALSO MAKES CREECKING SOUNDS ON UNEVEN ROADS. AND WHILE DRIVING IT MAKES THE CAR FEEL UNSTABLE WHEN ON ROUGH ROADS BY LOSING SOME CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI 11292509

Nov 19, 2019

DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION. WHEN WE WERE ABLE TO STOP, WE SAW THAT OUR SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. WE WERE VERY LUCKY THAT THE SHADE WAS CLOSED ON THE WINDOW. THERE WAS NOTHING AROUND US (VEHICLES, BRIDGES, ETC) TO CAUSE DEBRIS TO HIT THE SUNROOF TO CAUSE THE INCIDENT. THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY SCARY THING THAT I HAVE FOUND OUT IS NOT UNCOMMON.

NHTSA ODI 11281075

Nov 16, 2019

WE WERE SIMPLY PULLING OUT OF OUR SUBDIVISION AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. IT WAS AROUND 6PM AND THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 28 DEGREES F.

NHTSA ODI 11280473

Nov 1, 2019Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE RESULTED FROM AN IMPROPER WELDING OF THE HOOD STRIKER PLATE, WHICH CAUSED THE STRIKER PLATE TO FALL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STEVE LANDERS TOYOTA (866-584-3934, LOCATED AT 10825 COLONEL GLENN RD, LITTLE ROCK, AR 72204) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT WAS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1910282935. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.

NHTSA ODI 11277552

Oct 16, 2019Transmission & drivetrainBrakes

WHEN FIRST DRIVING VEHICLE AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT, BRAKES SQUEAK FOR THE FIRST ~5 MINUTES OF USE. WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER STARTING CAR FIRST THING AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT ONTO CITY STREET, CAR'S TRANSMISSION AND RPM'S SKYROCKET OUT OF NOWHERE TO 4,000 - 5,000WHEN PULLING ONTO STREET WITH 35 MPH SPEED LIMIT. WHEN ACCELERATING ONTO HIGHWAY - USUALLY IN SPORT MODE - CAR'S RPM'S GO UP LIKE THEY SHOULD BUT TRANSMISSION DOES NOT DOWN SHIFT PROPERLY AND SEEMS TO GET STUCK AT 3,000 - 4,000 RPMS. CAR ONLY HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT AND TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE SLIPPING ALREADY.

NHTSA ODI 11268898

Oct 16, 2019Steering

TL* THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND SEVERAL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AFTER THE POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 11268940

Oct 7, 2019

AIR CONDITIONING SMELLS LIKE MOLD OR MILDEW WHEN TURNING IT ON ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11266927

Sep 28, 2019Engine

PINK COOLANT KEPT DISAPPEARING. HAVE TO REFILL ONCE EVERY 6 MONTHS. FILL TO FULL AND 6 MONTHS LATER COOLANT WILL BE AT LOW LEVEL. CAR ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. IT HAD HAPPENED SINCE DAY 1.

NHTSA ODI 11258695

Aug 27, 2019Electrical systemFire

I DROVE FOR A FEW SECONDS, LESS THAN A BLOCK OUT OF A PARKING LOT, ONTO A LOCAL STREET, WHEN MY 2015 RAV4 SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN AND SMOKE STARTING COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO ROLL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC, AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO WALK FAR AWAY. I SAW FLAMES UNDER THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND CALLED 911.

NHTSA ODI 11246595

Aug 19, 2019Lights

HEAD LIGHTS ARE VERY LOW. CANNOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE ROAD IF THE STREET LIGHTS ARE NOT THERE. THERE IS NOT USE OF HEAD LIGHTS AS IT CANNOT BRING ANY VISIBILITY DURING NIGHT TIME WHICH MAKES NIGHT DRIVES NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. I HAVE SHOWN THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING IS GOOD AND HE CANNOT INCREASE THE INTENSITY OF LIGHT. HIGH BEAMS ARE WORKING FINE BUT CANNOT DRIVE IN THE CITY WHILE TURNING THEM ON. NOT SURE HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11244921

Jun 26, 2019Brakes

BRAKES STARTED SQUEAKING. SERVICE PERSON INSPECTED AND SAID PADS AND ROTORS ARE FINE; UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. I RESEARCHED INTERNET AND FOUND THERE ARE MANY OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NHSTA NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED FROM FAILING BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI 11222686

Jun 17, 2019Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL SEIZED WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON FOR IT TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KINGS TOYOTA (4700 FIELDS ERTEL RD, CINCINNATI, OH 45249, (513) 683-5440) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE DEALER UPDATED THE ECM, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD NEED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,372.

NHTSA ODI 11220647

Jun 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrainCrash

THE POWER STICK SHIFT MOVES TO EASILY OUT OF GEAR. IT REQUIRES ONLY A LIGHT DEPRESSING OF THE BREAK TO DISENGAGE IT. ON MAY 17 2019, I HAD BEEN PARKED WITH THE CAR ON. I HAD DROPPED SOMETHING ON THE FLOOR AND WENT TO PICK IT UP. MY FOOT WAS LIGHTLY TOUCHING THE BREAK AS I BENT DOWN. THE BREAK WAS DEPRESSED JUST ENOUGH TO ALLOW MY SHOULDER OR BACK TO HIT THE STICK SHIFT AND PUSH IT INTO REVERSE. UNBENOUNCED TO ME, AS I WAS STILL BENDING OVER TO PICK SOMETHING UP, THE CAR WAS PUSHED INTO REVERSE AND MOVED BACKWARDS INTO TWO CARS BEHIND ME. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A REALLY TRAGIC SITUATION HAD SOMEONE BEEN BEHIND ME IN THE PARKING LOT. OR WORSE, IF I HAD A CHILD IN THE CAR AND I HAD GOTTEN OUT TO GET SOMETHING FROM THE TRUNK AND THE CHILD JUMPED INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT. I AM NOT VERY TALL, AND SO A CHILD COULD EASILY DEPRESS THE BRAKE JUST ENOUGH TO RELEASE THE STICK SHIFT AND COULD HAVE RUN ME OVER. THERE SHOULD BE A SECONDARY RELEASE BUTTON ON ALL STICK SHIFTS OR THE BRAKE PEDDLE SHOULD NEED TO BE DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY. THIS INCIDENT DAMAGED THREE CARS. AND WHILE NOT MY FAULT AS IT WAS A DEFECT OR SAFTEY ISSUE WITH THE CAR, MY INSURANCE HAS NOW BEEN DINGED FOR IT. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO TOYOTA BUT THEY DO NOT SEEM TO CARE.

NHTSA ODI 11217264

May 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHINNING NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. HAPPENS IN ALL DRIVE MODES INCLUDING NEUTRAL

NHTSA ODI 11209907

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

May 19, 2019Electrical system

GAS GUAGE AND ODOMETER WENT TO ZERO WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO PULL OVER. IT FELT LIKE THE BLUETOOTH RADIO BUTTON GOT HOT. I TURNED OFF CAR AND WAITED, THEN ALL THE GAUGES CAME BACK ON. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM? I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER

NHTSA ODI 11208494

May 16, 2019AirbagsBody & structureCrash

FRONT END COLLISION- DIRECT HIT-2015 TOYOTO RAVE 4 -AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.CAR A HIT CAR B, CAR A GOING 50, HIT CAR B GOING 15 MPH. CAR B TOTALED

NHTSA ODI 11207960

May 1, 2019Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TWO INCHES ABOVE THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JIM COLEMAN TOYOTA (10400 AUTO PARK AVE, BETHESDA, MD 20817), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ODI 11204933

Mar 22, 2019Body & structure

I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WHEN THE TECHNICIAN OPENED THE HOOD, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE STRIKER FOR THE HOOD LATCH HAD BROKEN FREE OF THE FACTORY WELDS THAT HOLD IT IN PLACE, RENDERING THE LATCH INOPERABLE. WHILE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE OR BLOWS TO THE FRONT END OR HOOD. THERE ARE NO MARKS OR SIGNS OF DAMAGE AT ALL. THE STRIKER HAS SIMPLY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE HOOD. IT APPEARS THAT THE FACTORY WELDS JUST FAILED. I HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING WHEN OR HOW IT HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11190947

Mar 21, 2019Suspension

THE CAR SLIDE TO THE RIGHT. EVEN AFTER ALIGHTMENT, IT CANNOT KEEP ALIGNMENT. THE CAR WAS ALIGNMENT MANY TIMES, BUT IT JUST KEEP NORMAL OPERATION ABOUT 3-4 DAY. THEN IT PULLING TO RIGHT SIDE AGAINTHE CAR ALSO MAKE LOUDSY NOISE WHEN MARKING LETF, RIGHT TURN, INCREASING OR DECREASING SPEED AND. THE CAR PULLING MAKE IT IS HARD TO DRIVE AND STAY NORMALLY IN THE LANE ESPECIALLY ON FREEWAY. I TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALER, AND AFTER DO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME, THE LOW ARM CONTROL HAS PROBLEM, IT MAKE CAR CANNOT KEEP ALIGNMENT, AND SUGGEST ME TO REPLACE BOTH LOW ARM CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI 11190637

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

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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 →