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 23 of 26

Jul 23, 2020Fuel system

FUEL TANK DOES NOT FILL UP 14.5 GALLONS. IT ONLY FILLS UP ABOUT 9-10 GALLONS OF FUEL. MILEAGE RUN ON FULL TANK IS WAY WAY LESSER THAN WHAT IS ADVERTISED.

NHTSA ODI 11341054

Jul 21, 2020SteeringLane Departure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 TO 4 MILES, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITH AND WITHOUT THE LANE ASSIST FEATURE ACTIVATED. WITHIN ANOTHER 2-4 MILES THE FAILURE WAS INDEPENDENTLY REMEDIED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DELUCA TOYOTA (1719 SW COLLEGE RD, OCALA, FL 34471, (352) 732-0770) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. *LN*JB *BF *JS

NHTSA ODI 11340719

Jul 17, 2020Fuel system

FUEL INDICATION IN CAR IS INCORRECT. WHEN FUELING TO FULL DOES NOT INDICATE FULL AND FUEL GAUGE APPEARS INCORRECT AS QUANTITY DECLINES VERY QUICKLY. NOT ABLE TO TELL FROM THE GAUGE HOW MUCH FUEL IS ACTUALLY IN THE CAR. HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS IN ALL CONDITIONS SINCE CAR PURCHASED ON 04/18/2020

NHTSA ODI 11339877

Jul 17, 2020Electrical system

2020 JANUARY RAV4 XLE AWD. 2 CASES OF DEAD BATTERY. 1ST IN APRIL MILEAGE 2029, 1 WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING. 2ND IN JULY MILAGE 2896, 2 DAYS WITHOUT DRIVING. 1ST TIME; AAA JUMPED IT, TESTED BATTERY SAID IT FAILED. TOOK TO DEALER; NOTHING WRONG, BATTERY TEST GOOD. 2ND TIME; TOYOTA ROAD SERVER JUMPED IT. A SIMPLE SEARCH OF THE WEB SHOWS HUNDREDS OF THE SAME ISSUE. POSSIBLE REPORTED CAUSES; BAD BATCH OF BATTERIES, DCM FW UPDATE (TSB T-SB-0021-20 - DOESN'T APPLY TO OUR CAR), MYSTERY "SENSOR" NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, CONSTANT DATA COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN KEY FOB, POSITIONING SATELLITE OR BLUETOOTH PHONE. THIS IS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!!! PEOPLE ARE BEING STRANDED AT ANY TIME WITH A DEAD BATTERY ON CARS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD!!!

NHTSA ODI 11340023

Jul 9, 2020Body & structureBrakesCrash1 injury

ON JULY 3, 2020 AT 2:30PM I WAS PARKING THE CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A STRIP MALL WHEN I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR BUT THE CAR IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE, I PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED AGAIN AND JERKED BACKWARDS, WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE, I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT ON ME AGAIN FOR THE 2ND TIME. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAITED FOR THE OWNER OF THE PARKED VEHICLE, THE POLICE ARRIVED ON SITE AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *LN CONSUMER STATED BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11338404

Jul 8, 2020Electrical system

RAV4 WAS PURCHASED FIRST WEEK OF JUNE 2020. TWO WEEKS LATER, I GO TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE BATTERY IS DEAD. I HAD IT JUMPED AND TOOK IT TO TOYOTA. THE DEALER SAID EVERYTHING WAS WORKING AS IT SHOULD. I TOOK IT HOME. THIS MORNING, THREE WEEK AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, I GO TRY TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND THE BATTERY IS DEAD. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO JUMP AND START THE CAR. SINCE THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED IN A MONTH, I HAD THE CAR TOW TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS. SOMETHING IS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVER NIGHT BOTH TIMES. NO LIGHTS INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR LIGHT WERE ON. NO DOORS AJAR TO DRAW POWER. RADIO WAS TURNED OFF. BOTH FAN AND A/C WAS TURNED OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11338147

Jul 6, 2020Electrical system

DEAD BATTERY AFTER 1 MONTH OF PURCHASE

NHTSA ODI 11337664

Jul 6, 2020Electrical system

2020 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A HOST OF ISSUES SINCE PURCHASED MARCH 1, 2020. TOP THREE ARE: 1) FUEL TANK / FUEL SENDER ISSUE (SEE ATTACHED FROM TOYOTA CORPORATE), 2) REMOTE CONNECT ISSUE (T-SB-0021-20, ALSO ATTACHED), AND MOST RECENTLY 3) SMART KEY SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, PKSB FAILURE, BRAKE ASSIST FAILURE, AND A DEAD BATTERY. THESE MOST RECENT FAILURES ARE MOST TROUBLING AS THE CAR WAS TOTALLY UNRESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED GARAGE FOR 60 HOURS, UNTOUCHED. THERE ARE NO AFTER-MARKET INSTALLATIONS, AND NOTHING WAS ACCIDENTALLY LEFT ON; NO HIGH-DRAIN ACCESSORIES TO BLAME. THIS IS STRICTLY AN ELECTRICAL / SOFTWARE / FIRMWARE ISSUE, AND TOYOTA HAS SHOWN ZERO ACCOUNTABILITY IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. HUNDREDS, IF NOT MORE, 2020 RAV4 HYBRID OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE (FOR REFERENCE: HTTPS://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/THREADS/DEAD-BATTERY.303636/). THESE VEHICLES SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO BE SOLD AS-IS.

NHTSA ODI 11337697

Jul 5, 2020SteeringSpeed control

TRIED TO SET RADAR CONTROLLED CRUISE CONTROL FOR THE FIRST TIME ON A WORK TRIP TO MICHIGAN AT 70 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL IMMEDIATELY TURNED TO THE LEFT AND TOOK CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE TO KEEP VEHICLE STRAIGHT. TOOK SUV IN TO SHOP AND THEY SAID THE RADAR CONTROLLED ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WAS WORKING FINE AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. THIS WEEK TOOK ANOTHER WORK TRIP TO MICHIGAN AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED ABOUT 20 TIMES WHILE TRYING TO SET CRUISE CONTROL AT 70 MPH. WHEN I DISABLED THE RADAR CRUISE CONTROL THE PROBLEM VANISHED BUT THE SUV WOULD NOT DETECT TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF IT AND OF COURSE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. WILL TRY TO VIDEO THIS PROBLEM AND TAKE SUV BACK TO SHOP FOR A FIX.

NHTSA ODI 11337561

Jul 1, 2020Visibility & wipers

MY WINDSHIELD WAS HIT BY A SMALL ROCK FROM THE VAN ON THE LEFT LANE. IT CAUSED A CHIP BUT IT CRACKED ALMOST 15 INCHES ACROSS MY WINDSHIELD. I HAVE SEEN CHIP FROM MY PREVIOUS VEHICLES BUT IT NEVER LEFT A CRACK, THAT INSURANCE COVERED IT WITH NO DEDUCTIBLE. OTHER THAN NEEDING THE WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED, IT NEEDS TO BE CALIBRATED TOO OR SOME SENSORS WON'T WORK. THAT'S ANOTHER $390 PLUS TAX FROM TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER. I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE FROM AUTOGLASS NOW LOCATED AT RALEIGH, NC, THAT I CONTRACTED TO REPLACE MY WINDSHIELD, SHE SAID THEY'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF RAV 4 LATELY WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING. I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE AND SPENT $20, JUST TO SPEND $600 COS OF A BROKEN WINDSHIELD. TOYOTA PUT A CHEAP KIND OF GLASS THAT IT CRACKED BY A SMALL ROCK. THIS VEHICLE ISN'T CHEAP EITHER. TOYOTA, WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR US CONSUMERS? THIS IS SUCH A HASSLE AND EXPENSIVE INCONVENIENCE.

NHTSA ODI 11337075

Jun 30, 2020Fuel system

FUELING ENDS PREMATURELY. TOPPING OFF FUEL TANK CAN TAKE AS MUCH AS 2 MORE GALS.

NHTSA ODI 11331757

Jun 28, 2020Electrical system

NEW VEHICLE, PARKED IN ENCLOSED GARAGE, AT HOME FOR THIRTY-SIX (36 ) HOURS. VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY SIX-HUNDRED (600) MILES. WIFE MADE ATTEMPT TO START THE VEHICLE BUT THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. NO LIGHTS, NO HORN FUNCTIONING. CALLED TOYOTACARE FOR ASSISTANCE.. THEY RESPONDED AND DETERMINED THE NEW BATTERY HAD FIVE (5) VOLTS. THIS WAS DESCRIBED AS A TOTALLY DEAD BATTERY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, TOYOTA OF OLYMPIA (WASHINGTON) REPLACED THE DEAD BATTERY AND INSTALLED A BATTERY TRICKLE CHARGER. THE NEXT DAY, WE DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST FIVE HOURS AND PARKED IN CLOSED GARAGE. BATTERY VOLTAGE WAS 12.67 VOLTS. AFTER THREE HOURS, PARKED, THE BATTERY WAS 12.69. THE NEXT MORNING AT 6AM THE BATTERY WAS 12.63. WITHIN THREE HOURS (9AM) THE BATTERY WAS 12.45 VOLTS. ANY BATTERY AT 12.45 VOLTS IS CONSIDERED A DEAD BATTERY. WITHIN TWELVE HOURS THE BATTERY DIMINISHED FROM FULLY CHARGED TO DEAD VISITED THE WEB SITE OF CARGURUS AND LOCATED APPROXIMATELY SIXTEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM- DEAD BATTERY AFTER VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR TWO DAYS.

NHTSA ODI 11331313

Jun 27, 2020Fuel system

FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE AS WELL AS MILES REMAINING CALCULATIONS ARE INACCURATE. FUEL GAUGE INDICATES EMPTY WHEN APPROXIMATELY 2+ GALLONS REMAIN IN THE FUEL TANK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331193

Jun 25, 2020Electrical system

I BOUGHT A NEW 2020 RAV4 HYBRID XSE IN JANUARY. TWO WEEKS AGO, I WENT OUT IN THE MORNING TO DRIVE IT AND IT WOULDN'T START. THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I HAD LEFT IT PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE CAR LOCKED. THE CAR HAD 5,400 MILES. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO JUMP IT AND GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THEY SUGGESTED I WASN'T DRIVING IT ENOUGH ? *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330883

Jun 24, 2020Body & structure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SUNLIGHT WAS REFLECTED OFF THE CHROME ON THE DASHBOARD, WHICH CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VISION TO BE IMPAIRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE SIDE MIRRORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150. *BF*JB

NHTSA ODI 11330488

Jun 24, 2020Lane Departure

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY VEERED TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MARKQUART TOYOTA (1844 COMMERCIAL BLVD, CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI 54729), ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 800.

NHTSA ODI 11330596

Jun 23, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (NEW) ON 6/03/2020. ON 6/16/2020, WARNING LIGHTS AND BUZZERS WENT ON AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE WARNINGS TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKES, AND THAT I SHOULD PULL OVER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I DROVE TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO WORK. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT, THINKING IT MIGHT BE A COMPUTER GLITCH IN WHAT WAS A BRAND NEW CAR. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, I BACKED OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT TO "TEST" THE BRAKES. THE CAR STOPPED, BUT THE BRAKES SEEMED WEAKER. ULTIMATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER'S SERVICE REP CONTACTED ME TO TELL ME THAT THE BRAKE ASSIST ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED. I ASKED IF THIS WAS SOMETHING THEY HAD SEEN BEFORE AND HE SAID NO. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I DETERMINED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL WITH CERTAIN 2019 AND 2020 TOYOTA VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE 2019 RAV4 HYBRID. IN ADDITION, THIS DEFECT AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE BRAKE SYSTEM, BUT THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. I SUSPECT THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR IS A CONTINUATION OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2019 MODEL YEAR. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE EITHER CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM OR CHECKED THE 2020 CARS SUFFICIENTLY TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT THE BRAKE ASSIST ASSEMBLY WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330262

Jun 23, 2020Engine & cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V064000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. LE MIEUX TOYOTA (2550 S ONEIDA ST, GREEN BAY, WI 54304) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11330344

Jun 23, 2020Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADAR ENHANCED CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO OPERATE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN A VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN HOWEVER, THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWIN CITY TOYOTA (301 AUTUMN RIDGE DR, HERCULANEUM, MO 63048) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59. *BF*JB

NHTSA ODI 11330342

Jun 19, 2020Electrical system

VEHICLE IS LESS THAN A WEEK OLD (LESS THAN 1000MILES) AND I NOTICED THE FUEL TANK LID WAS CONSTANTLY POPPING OPEN. REALIZED THAT WHEN I TURNED MY CAR ON OR OFF (VERIFIED BY DEALERSHIP MECHANICS) THE GAS TANK FUEL LID WILL POP OPEN. SO, SOMEHOW THE POWER BUTTON ON THE VEHICLE CONTROLS MY GAS TANK LID. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WITH TOYOTA MECHANICS FOR ABOUT 24HRS NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329686

Jun 8, 2020Electrical system

VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN DECEMBER 2019 WITH 7 MILES ON IT. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS LOCKED AND LEFT IN THE DRIVEWAY OVER NIGHT. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE THE NEXT MORNING, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ALL LIGHTS WHEN ON UPON PRESSING THE START BUTTON, BUT WHEN PRESSED AGAIN, ALL LIGHTS FADED AND THE CAR COMPLETELY DIED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP WERE IT WAS KEPT FOR OVER A WEEK. ALL TESTS CAME BACK INCONCLUSIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327740

Jun 6, 2020Electrical system

THIS IS MY NEW CAR 2020 RAV4 XLE. I BROUGHT IT IN DEC 2019. ONE DAY I PARKED MY CAR IN EVENING AND NEXT DAY CAR DID NOT START (AFTER 3 MONTH OF USE WITH AROUND 1100 MILES ON IT). I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SEND PERSON TO TOW CAR. THEY DID BATTERY JUMP AND IT WORKED. AFTER THAT I HAVE MANUALLY TURNED OFF ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE THE CAR TILL NOW(HEAD LIGHT IS AUTO MODE) AND HAVE NO BATTERY ISSUE BUT I STILL WORRY ABOUT SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CAR?S ELECTRIC SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327550

Jun 4, 2020AirbagsCrash

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED WAS STOLEN AND IN A SINGLE CAR COLLISION WITH A TELEPHONE POLE. EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE OCCURRED WITH NO DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327214

Jun 2, 2020Electrical systemAirbagsEngine

PURCHASED 5/22/20. UNIT PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. WENT OUT TO USE THE AUTO AND ALL SYSTEMS FAILING IN AUTO. VEHICLE WILL NOT START. BRAKE ALERT, ENGINE ALERT, AIRBAG ALERT, POWER STEERING ALERT, EVERY LIGHT ON INSIDE VEHICLE FLASHING WITH ALERTS THAT THEY ARE FAILING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327007

May 30, 2020Visibility & wipers

SIDE MIRRORS VIBRATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MAKES IT HARD TO SEE WHEN CHANGING LANES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326582

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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 →