What 302 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

On Friday February 27, 2026 as the vehicle was being driven it caught fire. Fire department and sheriffs office was called to the scene. Vehicle fire was put out but the whole front end burned.

NHTSA ODI 11721498

The battery is off . It does not work. The car does not start. It looks like the battery is not properly installed. I just left my car at the Toyota dealership in June 12 for maintenance services, for brake fluid and flush etc including the replacement of a battery mounting hardware however it does not look right. The car started to go off and today it does not start at all. Please advice Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11669832

This is regarding potential safety issue related to the brake system. Last week (10/1/23) I changed the rear brake pads for the first time since I got the car from the dealer. The pads are original ones installed at the Toyota plant/line. Shocked was that there was no sign of grease on right/passenger side caliper guide pins, and pins were rusted and seized on the caliper as a result. This explains why the pad thickness is still 4-5 mm. Braking was done mostly by the front bakes. If the front brakes failed, it's like driving the car without brakes. I and my family narrowly escaped collision because it needs extra distance to make complete stop compared to other normal cars. I checked the front brake pads also just for safety reasons. The pins glide freely in the caliper, but not like normal guide pin behavior. This is the manufacturer's fault and could put me and my family in danger of collision.

NHTSA ODI 11549159

Road conditions were perfect - sunny, dry, nice weather. I was pulling into a parking spot and when I applied the brakes, they FROZE. I.e. the brake pedal DID NOT GO DOWN. (The mats were not an issue). Then the car suddenly accelerated and went over an embankment. I was able to stop the vehicle using the emergency brake.

NHTSA ODI 11443080

The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH and attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brake pedal went to the floor. The contact stated that he had to top off the brake fluid constantly. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V198000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic Stability Control) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

NHTSA ODI 11434578

Slow down to make a right turn, the car completely shut off. Put on emergency lights pulled into nearest safest parking lot, braking systems failed, finally put car in park. Pulled keys out of ignition. Took a look around nothing was physically wrong, got back into vehicle started it, with no problem. Took it through the same parking lot, through the drive-thru. Started smoking at the second window, pulled back into the parking lot, shut off vehicle. Got out of vehicle to access smoke, fire started, got back int car then an explosion. Grabbed my daughter and my things the best I could. There was about two or three more explosions afterwards, the fire department came to take out the flames; this was after other employees from the same area tried to put out the fire with fire extinguishers but it wasn’t much help. It halfway burned into the ground, the Fireman had to use the jaws of life to get the hood off of the car to extinguish the fire.

NHTSA ODI 11430552

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NHTSA ODI 10920262

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

WHILE PULLING UP TO A GAS PUMP THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. IT WENT FROM ZERO TO 40 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING. HE PUMPED THE BRAKES BUT CAR MADE A LOUD REVVING NOISE AND WOULD NOT STOP. MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING A TRUCK, BUT THE CAR WENT OVER A CONCRETE MEDIANO AND ONLY CAME TO A STOP WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS PULLED. THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH AIRBAG SMOKE EVEN THOUGH THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A WITNESS SAID THAT HE COULD TELL IT WAS A MECHANICAL ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE LOUD REVVING NOISE THE CAR WAS MAKING. TOYOTA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO TELL US WHAT HAPPENED. THEY DID NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR. THE CAR HIT THE MEDIAN SO HARD THAT THE FRAME HAS BEEN BENT. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN LOYAL TOYOTA CUSTOMER FOR OVER 20 YEARS, MY HOPE IS THAT THEY TOTAL THE CAR SO THAT I DON'T EVER HAVE TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. OUR TOYOTA CASE # IS1604122141. I KNOW THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES-THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THAT CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10876294

INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. TWO INSTANCES OF BRAKES FAILING TO ENGAGE WHEN PRESSURE APPLIED. FIRST INSTANCE CAUSED CAR TO CRASH INTO CONCRETE MEDIAN; NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE OR STRUCTURE AND INCIDENT NOT REPORTED. SECOND BRAKE FAILURE APRIL 14, 2016 AS CAR WAS DESCENDING PARKING LOT DRIVEWAY (DOWNHILL SLOPE) AND DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES. BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE. AS DRIVER WAS ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE THE CAR CAREENED OVER A COMMENT CURB, THROUGH A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND INTO A GAS MAIN AND APARTMENT BUILDING WALL. DRIVER SUSTAINED SOME INJURY TO NECK AND BACK DUE TO FORCE OF IMPACT. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR WAS TOWED OUT OF ACCIDENT BACK ON TO THE ACCESS ROAD. POLICE OFFICERS IN TAKOMA PARK, MD THEN TESTED CAR. ACCIDENT REPORT DESCRIBES "IMPACT AND DAMAGE" AS "DISABLING", HOWEVER OWNER WAS TOLD TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME. DRIVER IS NOT FLUENT IN ENGLISH AND DUE TO TRANSLATION ERRORS THE POLICE REPORT DOES NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE ACTUAL CAUSE OF ACCIDENT. CAR IS NOW AT DARCARS TOYOTA IN ROCKVILLE WITH AT LEAST $12,000 IN REPAIRS PENDING. OWNER HAS AUTO INSURANCE AND CAR WILL BE REPAIRED OR TOTALED OUT. HOWEVER, OWNER IS (UNDERSTANDABLY) TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE RAV4 AGAIN FOR FEAR THAT THE BRAKES WILL FAIL A THIRD TIME - WITH POSSIBLLY CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES TO DRIVER AND OTHERS. OWNER SPEAKS LIMITED ENGLISH AND IS A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY. I AM CONCERNED FOR NOT ONLY HER SAFELY, BUT THE SAFELY OF OTHERS EITHER FROM AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD BE CAUSED BY THIS CAR OR A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION THAT AFFECTS A GREATER NUMBER OF RAV4'S ON THE ROAD. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE VERY SERIOUSLY INVESTIGATED BEFORE PLACING THE CAR ON THE ROAD AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 10864472

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH DOWN AN INCLINE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED TWICE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ODI 10864263