Home · 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hv · Complaints

What 627 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 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 (627)Crash / fire / injury (23)Engine (179)Electrical system (119)Fuel system (89)Body & structure (59)Airbags (55)Transmission & drivetrain (36)Steering (27)Brakes (19)Visibility & wipers (17)Engine & cooling (15)

Newest first · 627 complaints · page 22 of 26

Oct 7, 2020Transmission & drivetrainBrakes

AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, WHEN I FOOT OFF THE BRAKE FOR ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE JERKS EVERY TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11363257

Sep 30, 2020Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE CAR WASH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. A MONTH LATER AFTER THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START-UP, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MODERN TOYOTA OF BOONE (225 MODERN DRIVE, BOONE NC, 28607, (828) 263-5437) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LOW BATTERY VOLTAGE. THE BATTERY WAS RECHARGED AND THE FAILURE WAS FIXED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,023.

NHTSA ODI 11362039

Sep 23, 2020Engine & cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT TANK WAS LOW. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WILLIAMS SCION OF ELMIRA (951 COUNTY ROAD 64, ELMIRA, NY 14903) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC FAILED TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE MECHANIC FOUND NO VISIBLE LEAKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V046000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,800.

NHTSA ODI 11360659

Sep 18, 2020Electrical system

THIS IS A SPECIFIC CONCERN FOR THE BATTERY/ELECTRIC SYSTEM THAT APPEARS TO BE VERY PREVALENT.. IN THE 3 MONTHS SINCE BUYING MY 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED HYBRID (JUNE 20, 2020)-I'VE HAD TO HAVE MY CAR JUMPED TWICE DUE TO A DEAD BATTERY. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING I WAS NOT DOING CORRECTLY. HOWEVER, AFTER READING THE COMMENTS ON SEVERAL SITES IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN THE DAY BEFORE EACH TIME AND WOULD NOT START THE NEXT MORNING. THE SERVICE PERSON WHO CAME OUT TO JUMP IT THE SECOND TIME SAID THAT HE GETS A LOT OF CALLS FOR THESE NEW CARS. THE SECOND TIME IT ALSO LOST MY PARKING ASSIST ON THE BACKUP CAMERA ALONG WITH THE LAST RADIO SETTING. UNFORTUNATELY- TAKING IT TO THE DEALER HAS NOT WORKED FOR MOST OF THE OWNERS. THE DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG OR EVEN LOCATE THE ISSUE. WHAT HAS TOYOTA DONE TO DETERMINE WHY THIS IS HAPPENING? IS IT SOFTWARE, BATTERY, ELECTRICAL OR A COMBINATION OF THESE? REFERENCES: HTTPS://WWW.MOTORBISCUIT.COM/ARE-2019-AND-2020-TOYOTA-RAV4-HYBRIDS-SUFFERING-BATTERY-ISSUES/ HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-C29023_DS1091695 HTTPS://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/THREADS/2020-HYBRID-STARTING-ISSUE-DUE-TO-BATTERY-DRAIN.303771/ HTTPS://WWW.KBB.COM/TOYOTA/RAV4/2020/CONSUMER-REVIEWS/ HTTPS://WWW.REDDIT.COM/R/RAV4CLUB/COMMENTS/FUCB6M/2020_RAV4_BATTERY_DEAD/ PLUS MORE --- JUST GOOGLE '2020 RAV4 HYBRID BATTERY PROBLEMS'

NHTSA ODI 11359832

Sep 18, 2020

DARK SMOKED BORDER WINDOW VENT PROTECTOR IS UNSTICK. .SO THE PASSENGER DARK SMOKED WINDOW VENT PROTECTOR IS BROKEN.THE GLUE IS NOT WORKING WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11359905

Sep 7, 2020Fuel system

FUEL CAPACITY FOR THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSE TO BE `14.5 GALLONS, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE ONLY FILLS UP TO 10 GALLONS WHEN EMPTY .

NHTSA ODI 11353485

Sep 1, 2020Electrical system

I HAVE A 2020 RAV4 XLE WITH ABOUT 3,000 MILEAGE. THE CAR BATTERY HAS DIED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I JUMP STARTED THE CAR. THE SECOND TIME, I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A NEW CAR WOULD BE HAVING THESE BATTERY PROBLEMS. HAS ANYONE HAD ANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND HAVE SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE?

NHTSA ODI 11352652

Aug 31, 2020Body & structure

SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ON DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE VIBRATE WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED AND VIBRATE/SHAKE EXCESSIVELY TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS GREATER THAN 50MPH. THIS REDUCES VISIBILITY AND CAUSES NAUSEA.

NHTSA ODI 11352201

Aug 28, 2020Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V286000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE LOCAL DEALER STAPP TOYOTA LOCATED AT 8019 RASPBERRY WAY, FREDERICK, CO 80504, WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11351775

Aug 24, 2020Fuel system

I BOUGHT A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID FOR FUEL EFFICIENCY. I'VE HAD IT NEARLY 6 MONTHS AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REALIZE ANY FUEL EFFICIENCY DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL TANK. MY GAS GAUGE WAS AT 1/4 TANK AND I REFUELED. THE PUMP STOPPED AFTER REACHING 'FULL'. WHEN I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AFTER 'FILLING UP', THE GAUGE WENT TO 3/4 TANK INSTEAD OF FULL. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE TANK, THEREFORE, I CANNOT TELL IF THE VEHICLE IS EVEN FUEL EFFICIENT. MY PREVIOUS CAR WAS A 2003 TOYOTA RAV4 NON-HYBRID AND I'D REFUEL EVERY 2 WEEKS AND IT HAS THE SAME SIZE FUEL TANK THAT THE 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID SUPPOSEDLY HAS (14.5 GALLONS). IT FEELS LIKE THE FUEL TANK IS HALF THAT SIZE. I'M HAVING TO REFUEL MY 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID WEEKLY TO KEEP FROM LEAVING ME STRANDED BECAUSE THE GAS GAUGE IS READING INCORRECTLY. TOYOTA NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE ASAP.

NHTSA ODI 11351054

Aug 23, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

BATTERY "DIED" THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST - JUMP STARTED AND DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND THAT "SHORT DISTANCE" DRIVING CAN DRAIN THE BATTERY - SINCE I DRIVE 45 MILES A DAY TO AND FROM WORK, THAT IS NOT A VALID "EXCUSE". NOW, 3 WEEKS LATER, MY CAR WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE FOR 36 HOURS WITH NOTHING LEFT ON - AND THE CAR IS COMPLETELY DEAD. TESTED THE BATTERY MYSELF BEFORE JUMPSTARTING IT - AND IT FULL. ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHY MY CAR SHOULD NOT START.

NHTSA ODI 11350829

Aug 17, 2020Engine

CAR BATTERY DIED AFTER ONE DAY OF SITTING WITHOUT USE. DEALER DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS. BUT IT HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. TOYOTA DEALER OFFERED NO SOLUTION AND MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11349968

Aug 17, 2020Fuel system

CAR DOES NOT FILL UP WITH FUEL TO MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. CANNOT GET MORE THAN 10 GALLONS INTO 14.5 GALLON TANK. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11349970

Aug 12, 2020Electrical system

CAR BATTERY DIED AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS, LESS THAN 3,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING, I WOULD GET A MESSAGE THAT READ, "BATTERY CHARGING." DEALERSHIP REPLACED BATTERY AND 1 WEEK LATER, THE NEW BATTERY DIED. AFTER DOING A PARASITIC DRAIN TEST, THE PROBLEM WAS SOURCED TO THE DATA CONTROL MODULE. THE DEALERSHIP UPLOADED NEW SOFTWARE AND SO FAR I'VE HAD NO FURTHER ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11348928

Aug 11, 2020Fuel system

FUEL TANK IS ADVERTISED AS 14.5 GALLONS /580 MILES PER TANK. BRAND NEW VEHICLE OFF THE LOT ONLY FILLS UP TO 8 GALLONS AND GETS 420MILES PER TANK

NHTSA ODI 11348596

Aug 5, 2020

THE VEHICLE HAD NO BATTERY POWER TO START THE VEHICLE AFTER SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 36 HOURS FROM WHEN LAST DRIVEN. THIS PROBLEM POSSES A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD AS THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DISABLED.

NHTSA ODI 11343428

Aug 5, 2020Electrical systemEngine

SERIOUS D-CELL BATTERY DISCHARGE ISSUE. TWICE OUR NEW RAV4 HYBRID HAS HAD TO BE JUMPED AND TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A DEAD BATTERY. DEALER FOUND NOTHING FIXABLE BUT REPLACED THE BATTERY. 1ST TIME WE WERE STRANDED IN HOTEL PARKING LOT AFTER TRIP ABROAD. 2ND TIME WAS AT HOME. CARGURUS SENDS ME 5 COMPLAINTS A DAY FOR OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. VEHICLE IS NOT RELIABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11343488

Aug 5, 2020Steering

THE POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN FOR TWO HOURS (FROM NYC TO PHILADELPHIA) THEN PARALLEL PARKED ON A CITY STREET AND TURNED OFF. THE CAR WAS RESTARTED LESS THAN ONE MINUTE AFTER BEING TURNED OFF (TO IMPROVE THE PARKING JOB); THE CAR STARTED, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS, BUT THE WHEELS COULD NOT BE TURNED WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT FORCE. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR OTHER THAN A PARTIALLY DRAINED BATTERY.

NHTSA ODI 11343554

Aug 2, 2020Electrical system

2020 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID PURCHASED DEC 2019 BATTERY DIES AFTER CAR HAS BEEN SITTING A FEW DAYS CAR DOES NOT START HAVE TO TOW TO DEALER

NHTSA ODI 11342753

Aug 2, 2020Electrical system

TWO DAYS OF NOT DRIVING AND NO POWER TO CAR BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAID I WAS DREAMING OF THINGS AND BOUGHT IT HOME THEN TWO DAYS LATER IT HAPPEN AGAIN

NHTSA ODI 11342854

Jul 31, 2020Brakes

WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL ON THE FREEWAY. IF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME GOES TO EXIT AND SLOWS DOWN. MY CAR BRAKES EVEN THOUGH I AM NOT EXITING. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT BY TWO SEMIS ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE ALSO ALMOST BEEN HIT BY A COUPLE OF CARS AS MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY BRAKED ON REGULAR ROADS WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME PULLED INTO A RIGHT HAND TURN LANE AND SLOWED DOWN NEXT TO ME.

NHTSA ODI 11342629

Jul 30, 2020Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ENTERING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS NO ELECTRICAL POWER INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. AFTER RECHARGING THE BATTERY, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO GATORLAND TOYOTA LOCATED AT 2985 N. MAIN ST, GAINESVILLE, FL 32609, AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY POWER WAS DRAINED DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 48 HOURS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 970.

NHTSA ODI 11342327

Jul 28, 2020Fuel system

VEHICLE HAS A 14.5 USG GAS TANK AND GETS APPROXIMATELY 40MPG AS PER THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A RANGE OF APPROXIMATELY 560 MILES. AT 390 MILES, THE DISTANCE TO EMPTY DISPLAY WAS 44 MILES AND THE GAS GAUGE NEEDLE WAS JUST ABOVE E. AT THE FILL UP THE PUMP KICKED OFF AT 9.6 GALLONS. WHEN TRYING TO ADD MORE GAS, THE PUNP KICKED OFF AGAIN AT 10.1 GALLONS. THE GAS GAUGE READS FULL AND THE DISTANCE TO EMPTY READS 470 MILES. I AM EITHER 4 GALLONS SHORT OF A FULL TANK OR THE GAUGE READS EMPTY WHEN THERE IS 4 GALLONS REMAINING. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR 4 WEEKS. A SERVICE WRITER AT THE DEALERSHIP DENIES ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM AS THERE IS NO ACTUAL RECALL NOTICE. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS NO REMEDY. DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THROUGH INTERNAL MEMOS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE. THE RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IS TO LEAVE IT FOR A DAY TO BE LOOKED AT. I REALIZE THERE IS NO CURRENT FIX, BUT DEALERSHIPS SHOULD BE DOCUMENTING COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ODI 11341918

Jul 28, 2020Electrical system

FOR THE SECOND TIME NOW THE BATTERY IN THE BRAND NEW 2020 RAV4 XLE (HAD IT FOR LESS THAN A MONTH) WAS DRAINED WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT IN USE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER, BATTERY RECHARGED AND TOLD NOTHING WRONG, NO ERROR CODES, ETC. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN NOW. CAR BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER AND I AM ASKING FOR A NEW BATTERY TO BE INSTALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11341941

Jul 24, 2020Electrical system

BATTERY DIES WHEN NOT STARTED FOR A FEW DAYS, WITH NO DOORS LEFT OPEN OR LIGHTS LEFT ON, ETC. DEALER STATES THAT DIAGNOSTICS CAME BACK CLEAR AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BATTERY. ISSUE STILL PRESENT. VEHICLE WAS LEFT IN THE GARAGE OFF FOR 3 DAYS, WHEN WE NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD.

NHTSA ODI 11341305

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Working with the data? Download all 627 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 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hv verdict →