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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)

Newest first · 302 complaints · page 9 of 13

Jan 14, 2019Visibility & wipers

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL POSTED SPEED THE SUNROOF IN OUR 2015 EXPLODED FOR REASONS UNKNOWN CAUSING A HUGE HOLE IN THE SUNROOF AND THE REST OF THE SUNROOF GLASS TO CRACK AS WELL. NOTHING APPEARED TO HIT THE SUNROOF AND THERE WAS VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE GLASS SEEMED TO EXPLODE OUTWARDS AS IF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR SOME TYPE OF PRESSURE.

NHTSA ODI 11169919

Jan 10, 20192 injuries

MYSELF, MY DAUGHTER AND MY DAUGHTER'S FATHER WERE TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 89 TOWARDS BURLINGTON, VT. WE HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD BANG. IT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION OR A GUN SHOT. THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED, NOT FROM ANY DEBRIS OR ROCK'JUST EXPLODED. IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. LUCKILY WE ONLY GOT MINOR CUTS FROM THE GLASS. THIS HAPPENED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THANKFULLY I MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE CAR DESPITE THE EXPLOSION AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED SOMEONE ELSE IN ANOTHER CAR. NOW I AM FINDING OUT HOW OFTEN THIS TYPE OF THING HAPPENS AND WHY IS NOTHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS. SUNROOFS NEED TO BE RECALLED. IT IS HORRIFYING THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED. IN ALL HONESTY, THIS PROBABLY WON'T CHANGE UNTIL SOMEONE DIES AS A RESULT OF THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11166239

Oct 19, 2018Speed controlEngineCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE FORWARD, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE OF A PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO REV EVEN THOUGH THE CONTACT WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO MOVE BACKWARDS WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STILL DEPRESSED. THE PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO REACH THE GEAR SHIFT AND PLACE IT IN THE PARK POSITION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI 11141402

Oct 10, 2018

I NOTICE WARM AIR COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS EVEN WHEN I DONT HAVE THE AIR ON. IT CONCERNS ME THAT IT MAY BE EXHAUST. I ALSO HAVE A 2014 COROLLA THAT DOES THE SAME THING. YOU CANT STAND THE WARM AIR ON SEMI WARM DAYS. YOU CAN FEEL THE WARM HAIR COME THROUGH VENTS WITHOUT THE FAN ON. ITS ON GOING.

NHTSA ODI 11139546

Oct 7, 2018Electrical systemBody & structureEngineFire

CAR STALLED SO I PULLED OVER. THERE WAS SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN MINUTES IT TURNED INTO A BIG FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO BE CALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11138884

Sep 20, 2018Electrical systemWheels

FOUR INCIDENTS OF DAMAGE TO WIRING BY RODENTS. MECHANIC BELIEVES THE RODENT TO BE A RAT. ONE RAT HAS BEEN CAUGHT IN A LIVE TRAP. YET TWO MORE INCIDENTS OF EATEN WIRING.THE RAT EATS THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING AND BITES THROUGH THE WIRING. THE RAT DRAGS TISSUES INTO THE H/A VENTS. EVEN TRIED TO EAT A PACKAGE OF FOIL WRAPPED HAND WIPES. THE RAT HAS LEFT SCAT UNDER THE SEATS. THE RAT WAS OBSERVED PLAYING UNDER MY CAR WHILE PARKED DOWNTOWN. HE MANAGED TO GET BACK IN THE CAR AND RODE 'HOME.'

NHTSA ODI 11130483

Sep 16, 2018Electrical system

WE PURCHASED A TOYOTA RAV4 WITH A 100% O.K. FROM TOYOTA DEALER FOUR WEEKS AND 200 MILES AFTER PARKING IN THE GARAGE THE NEXT MORNING IT WOULD NOT START SEVERAL TRY'S LATER IT BARLEY STARTED, I AM A RETIRED MECHANIC, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NORMAL BRIGHT WITH HORN HONKING, THE DEALER TOLD MY WIFE THE BATTERY HAD 0 CRANKING AMPS THEY INSTALLED A NEW 80 MONTH TOYOTA BATTERY,. MY PROBLEM IS SAFETY ISSUES GOING TO THE INTERNET AND SEARCHING TOYOTA PROBLEMS BATTERY'S, ELECTRICAL SHORTS, ELECTRICAL FIRES, STOPPING UNEXPECTEDLY LOSS OF STEERING, ELECTRIC WIRE BURN SMELL, I COULD GO ON MY POINT IS EVERYTHING IS TIED TOGETHER ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH WIRING SHORTS ! I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE AN ALARMIST BUT IT MIGHT SOUND THAT WAY, SOMETHING IS CAUSING ALL THE ISSUES WITH EARLY BATTERY FAILURE, AS A MECHANIC 50 YEARS I HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE AND ALMOST ALWAYS IT IS A ELECTRICAL SHORT SOME WARE IN THE SYSTEM, AND IN SOME VEHICLES YOU NO LONGER HAVE THROTTLE CABLES OR LINKAGE YOU HAVE ELECTRIC ASSIST MEANING A MOTOR OR SOME KIND OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE DEVICE THAT CAN SHORT AND INADVERTENTLY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STOP OR CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO ADVANCE FULL THROTTLE WITH NO WAY TO STOP! I'M HOPING SOME ONE WILL READ THIS THAT CAN HELP PUT OUR MINDS TO REST OR PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE, I AM AFRAID FOR MY WIFE AND ALL LOVED ONES DRIVING THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ODI 11129760

Aug 7, 2018SteeringSuspension

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

NHTSA ODI 11118337

Jul 28, 2018Suspension

MY CAR 2015 RAV4 TOYOTA AND MY CAR RUNNING ONLY 40,000 KM AND MY CAR REAR SHOCKS TO NEED TO CHANGE.

NHTSA ODI 11114326

Jun 12, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT. IT WAS MY TURN TO GO, I PROCEEDED TO GO STRAIGHT WHEN ANOTHER CAR RAN THE STOP LIGHT AND I WAS T-BONED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEN A DRIVER RAN A LIGHT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE SIDE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IF THE HIS WAS BAD ENOUGH TO TOTAL THE CAR. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THE AIR BAGS KNOW WHEN IT IS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI 11101312

Apr 17, 2018Electrical system

WIRING HARNESS HAS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED, CAUSE DO TO RODENTS CHEWING ALL WIRING BECAUSE OF ALL THE INGREDIENTS THEY USE IN THE SOY BASED WIRING INSULATION.

NHTSA ODI 11088758

Mar 23, 2018Seat belts

BACK RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT BELT HAS A SMALL TEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11081101

Feb 24, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

HEAD ON COLLISION AT 48MPH AFTER BEING SIDESWIPED. NEITHER FRONT OR SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11074646

Feb 23, 2018Seat beltsCrash4 injuries1 death

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING HEAD ON TOWARDS HIM. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A CRASH AND MOVED OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY; HOWEVER, THE OTHER VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING. THE OTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONTACT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AMBULANCE WAS CALLED AND FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE OCCUPANTS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A TEN YEAR OLD OCCUPANT WAS AIR LIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND LATER DIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED FROM THE SCENE. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (NORTH HOLLYWOOD TOYOTA, 4606 LANKERSHIM BLVD, NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA 91602) FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 17, 2018. THE CRASH OCCURRED THE DAY BEFORE THE APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

NHTSA ODI 11074492

Feb 15, 2018Brakes

BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP CAR ON HIGHWAY PETAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR TOW CAR TO DEALERSHIP .CHECKED OK TO DEALERSHIP" THEY SAID"

NHTSA ODI 11073179

Jan 8, 2018AirbagsSpeed controlCrash3 injuries

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO EXPRESS TOWING'S FACILITY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ODI 11061200

Dec 28, 2017Seat belts

RIGHT SIDE REAR SEAT AND MIDDLE REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAIL TO LOCK PROPERLY OR NOT AT ALL. ONE IS CURRENTLY USELESS. LEFT SIDE REAR OK. I NOTED THIS PURCHASING THIS CAR USED INSPECTING. IS THIS COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY OR FEDERAL MANDATE?

NHTSA ODI 11057046

Dec 26, 2017Body & structure

AFTER BEING PARKED IN CARPORT OVERNIGHT ON A WINTER NIGHT IN DEC 2017, I DROVE ONLY A COUPLE OF MILES DOWN THE I-15 FREEWAY IN UTAH BETWEEN SPANISH FORK AND SPRINGVILLE NO MORE THAN 60 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD 'EXPLODING SOUND' ON THE TOP OF MY CAR OUTSIDE AND THEN 'TINKLING' NOISES FROM THE FRONT OF THE ROOF AREA TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. IT HAPPENED AT 0900 ON A COLD SUNDAY MORNING AND THE TRAFFIC WAS EXTREMELY LIGHT. THE NEAREST VEHICLES TO ME WERE AT LEAST 10 CAR LENGTHS AHEAD AND BEHIND ME AND THERE WERE NO VEHICLES ON EITHER SIDE OF ME. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE ROAD HAZARD AND NO ICE FALLING FROM ANYWHERE SINCE WE HAD HAD NO WINTER WEATHER OF ANY KIND SO FAR THAT SEASON. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO STOP AND EXAMINE THE DAMAGE, THERE WAS A GIANT HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY MOON/SUN ROOF. IT HAD MYSTERIOUSLY EXPLODED WITH JAGGED EDGES JETTING UPWARDS WITH SHARDS OF SHATTERED GLASS LITTERING THE TOP OF MY CAR AND INSIDE ON THE MOON/SUN ROOF SLIDER INSIDE.

NHTSA ODI 11056675

Dec 19, 2017

SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON A ONE LANE COUNTRY ROAD - NO CAR WAS IN FRONT OF ME AT THE TIME. OCCURRED AT 11:00 AM AND OUTSIDE TEMPS WERE 43 DEGREES.

NHTSA ODI 11055463

Dec 10, 2017AirbagsBody & structureCrash1 injury

VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WENT THROUGH A 'RED' LIGHT AND HIT IT ON THE RIGHT FENDER. FENDER CAME OFF. OTHER VEHICLE HAD FRONT SMASHED IN AND AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE TOYOTA. DRIVER WAS WEARING SEATBELT, BUT LACK OF AIRBAG CAUSED DRIVERS ARM AND CHEST TO HIT STEERING WHEEL AND LEGS TO HIT OTHER COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11053796

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

Nov 17, 2017Seat belts1 injury

TAKATA RECALL - THE 3 SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK DO NOT LOCK WHILE IN MOTION. MY 6YR. SON IS CONSTANTLY SLIDING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. IT OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, IN MOTION, ON A CITY STREET OR HIGHWAY, TURNING, APPLYING THE BRAKES, ABRUPTLY SWAYING TO RIGHT OR LEFT TO AVOID COLLISION, ETC.

NHTSA ODI 11046994

Oct 27, 2017Fire

THE CAR STARTED ON FIRE AS I WAITED FOR A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ODI 11040382

Oct 23, 2017Electrical system

THE CAR FAILS TO START AT TIMES WITH KEYLESS START I HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN UNSAFE SITUATION I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF FORT BEND TOYOTA WITH NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED A NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11035829

Oct 22, 2017Brakes

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE BRAKES STARTED TO GRIND AROUND 27,500 MILES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANT. THE SERVICE AGENT TOLD ME THAT THE 2015 RAV4 HAD A DESIGN ISSUE WHERE THE BRAKES START TO GO BAD AROUND MY CURRENT MILLAGE OF ABOUT 27,900. HE ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, NOR IS THERE A RECALL. HE TOLD ME THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AT THE NEXT SERVICE. HE ALSO SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN ISSUE, HE IS OFFERING A DISCOUNT AT $290.00. IT SEAMS TO ME THAT A DESIGN ISSUE THAT CAUSES YOUR BRAKES TO GO BAD AROUND 28,000 MILES SHOULD NOT ONLY BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT ALSO HAVE A RECALL ISSUED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11035518

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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 →