Home · 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hv · Complaints

What 377 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 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 (377)Crash / fire / injury (53)Airbags (125)Electrical system (45)Engine (37)Visibility & wipers (30)Fuel system (24)Body & structure (21)Brakes (20)Steering (20)Transmission & drivetrain (20)Driver assistance (17)

Newest first · 377 complaints · page 3 of 16

Dec 1, 2025Airbags

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags ) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.

NHTSA ODI 11702216

Nov 24, 2025Body & structure

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while attempting to roll up the front driver's side window, the contact noticed water on the window. The contact then inspected the rear driver's side and passenger's side windows and noticed that water was clogging the doors. No warning light was illuminated. Neither the dealer nor an independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a known issue but there was no related recall. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.

NHTSA ODI 11701198

Nov 22, 2025AirbagsLane DepartureCrash

I was involved in an accident on the interstate traveling at about 80 mph and I hit a guard rail. I swerved, and then the lane assistance kicked in and made me lose control of the car completely, which is how I slammed into the guard rail. In that process, none of the airbags deployed and I had a passenger in the car.

NHTSA ODI 11700985

Nov 18, 2025

I was driving for less than 5 minutes when my sunroof exploded and shattered out of nowhere. My safety was put at risk for several reasons - 1) it sounded like a gun shot had come at me while I was operating the vehicle which was extremely startling. 2) Glass could have shattered all over me and affected my sight on the road. 3) I had to pull over on a busy road not knowing where glass was in my car. 4) This happened due to NO impact, out of NOWHERE.

NHTSA ODI 11700077

Nov 16, 2025Brakes

Brakes lights comes on while driving n the two wheel front makes a grinding sound while still driving… a friend of mine had the same problem took her rav4 2021 to windward toyota Kaneohe hawaii several times n finally on the 5th service was told that it’s her secondary brake system and in my Toyota the LTA DISPLAY WAS ON MY DASHBOARD DISPLAY

NHTSA ODI 11699718

Nov 12, 2025Transmission & drivetrainEngine

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while her daughter was dropping her off, the daughter shifted to park(P), and the vehicle made an abnormal static sound. The contact stated that the failure recurred upon shifting to drive(D). There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. An independent auto electrician was contacted and informed the contact that the abnormal sounds could be related to an engine failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that no failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,314.

NHTSA ODI 11699009

Nov 8, 2025Body & structure

The driver door on my 2021 Toyota RAV4 has an automatic unlock feature that unlocks the door when you approach the car with the key in your pocket. This feature has malfunctioned to the point that I cannot open the door at all, even with the key fob. I have to either manually remove the physical key from the fob and open the door that way, or else enter the vehicle from a different door and unlock manually from inside. This causes a significant delay in my ability to enter the vehicle and could pose a safety risk if I or my wife (who usually drives it) needed to exit a dangerous situation quickly. I’m told this malfunction is the result of a faulty door actuator, and repairs would cost over $300. I’m also told it’s a common bug among RAV4’s from 2018 to 2024. It seems there’s no recall because Toyota is under the impression that it isn’t common enough. Well I’m reporting to let someone know that it is at least one vehicle more common than you previously believed. Also, it’s 2025. I don’t think I should have to pay over $300 for doors that work.

NHTSA ODI 11698329

Nov 8, 2025Airbags

1. The passenger side airbag has had a recall notification since 12/3/23. It is now 11/8/25. 2. The life and safety of my passengers are at risk. 3. The problem has been confirmed by NHTSA recall notification on 12/3/23, and personal experience. 4. The passenger side airbag warning came on the day I bought the vehicle on [XXX] at CarMax in Oxnard, CA, and was about to drive my Toyota Rav4 XLE off the lot. I was told by the CarMax salesperson that it was because my personal bag on the passenger seat was not heavy enough to indicate an actual person and, therefore, not to worry about this warning signal, this was normal. This obviously was not normal as there has now been a recall of the passenger side air bag system by Toyota/NHTSA as of December 2023. It is now November 2025 and there is no remedy available yet by Toyota per the NHTSA website. Your website stated if no timely remedy is completed, to file a complaint. I am now filing this complaint due to the 2-year delay by Toyota in providing this life-saving remedy. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11698330

Oct 22, 2025Airbags

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11695060

Oct 22, 2025

I was driving on the highway and my panoramic moonroof spontaneously shattered. It sounded like a gunshot and I didn't realize what had happened until I was able to pull over and examine my car several minutes later. I was very shaken up from the noise and knowing something was wrong with my vehicle but not knowing what happened. As far as I know I didn't have anything hit my vehicle/sunroof and I was driving on a stretch of road with no tree cover at the time. I had the inside sliding part of the moonroof closed so all of the broken glass was contained in there, but if it had been open the broken glass would've fallen all over my head while driving. When looking up information on this online I can see that several people have had similar issues and there looks to be a class action lawsuit in progress about this problem. https://lemberglaw.com/class-actions/gamez-v-toyota-motor/ The sound of the glass shattering was alarming in itself, and also any glass on the roof needs to be laminated to reduce the risk of accidents caused by glass falling on people if they don't have the inside slider closed to catch it.

NHTSA ODI 11695097

Oct 21, 2025Crash1 injury

The contact owned a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that his wife had just parked the vehicle in front of the business and was about to move the shift gear lever to park(P), when the vehicle accelerated independently, jumped the cement parking block, and crashed into a tree, where it came to a stop. None of the air bags were deployed. The contact suffered minor injuries; had a bruise on the right breast, back pain, chest pain, and lower neck pain that did not require medical attention. The police were not notified. The vehicle was towed to a collision center, and the insurance company then towed to vehicle to another collision center where the vehicle was declared a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,000.

NHTSA ODI 11694758

Oct 17, 2025Airbags

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4 The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11694171

Oct 8, 2025

While driving on the freeway at normal speed, the glass sunroof shattered. There were no other cars around and we were out in the open, not driving under an overpass or anything. It was an 80 degree day, sunny and not windy.

NHTSA ODI 11692087

Oct 7, 2025Airbags

It's been a while since I bought the car, but there's still no solution to the manufacturing defect. I hope there will be a solution as soon as possible for my safety. If I drive and the airbag does not open, if I get seriously injured, who will be responsible?

NHTSA ODI 11691990

Oct 4, 2025Electrical system

Message "Voltage Abnormality Steering Power Low" was displayed several times while stopped at traffic lights and the auto stop/start engine feature was engaged. Took vehicle to dealership nothing was done since they could not replicate the issue.

NHTSA ODI 11691364

Oct 3, 2025Airbags

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags). The contact had been calling the local dealer and was informed that parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that approximately two years ago, the air bag warning illuminated and remained illuminated whenever the vehicle was started. The contact had since stopped anyone from sitting in the front passenger’s seat. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11691154

Oct 2, 2025Electrical systemAirbags

On May 1, 2025, my 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid displayed an SRS Airbag malfunction warning (Recall 23TA15). The passenger airbag was disabled, making the vehicle unsafe to drive. Toyota had announced this recall in December 2023, but I never received any notification. When I contacted Toyota on May 9, 2025, I was told there were no parts available and was even offered a $200 paid inspection instead of a free recall repair. My vehicle remained at the dealership from May until September 29, 2025, without any available remedy. During this period, I continued paying my auto loan and insurance for a car I could not use. Toyota also failed to disclose my right to a free rental vehicle; I only received temporary rentals (Camry, later Tacoma) after repeated demands, and they did not meet my transportation needs. While the airbag recall was still unresolved, a second safety recall (25TD01 – Rear Traction Motor Cable Corrosion) was announced in mid-September 2025. This meant my vehicle had two active safety recalls at the same time while in Toyota’s custody. Both defects were only repaired at the end of September and early October 2025. Toyota failed to notify me in time, delayed the remedy for nearly two years after the recall announcement, concealed rental rights, and allowed my vehicle to remain unsafe under multiple recalls for months. An independent arbitrator has already issued a repurchase decision, confirming Toyota’s responsibility. This demonstrates a systemic failure by Toyota to comply with recall and safety obligations.”

NHTSA ODI 11691097

Sep 29, 2025Airbags

My 2021 Toyota RAV4 has been under airbag recall for over a year (starting around August 2023), and I have been unable to safely use my vehicle since then. Toyota has no estimated timeline for parts availability or repair, and the recall remains unresolved, they originally estimated October 2024, but that was nearly 1 year ago. Their provided timelines are now unreliable. I was provided a rental car, but it is not comparable to my RAV4 (smaller, less safe, lacks features like AWD and collision protection). Toyota has told me that if I accept the inferior rental, I will not be allowed to drive my own vehicle until the airbag is replaced — an indefinite period. I have contacted the dealer and Toyota Corporate repeatedly, but have been told there is no fix in the foreseeable future. Toyota has effectively deprived me of my own vehicle for more than 12 months, with no compensation, no buyback, and no acceptable substitute. This indefinite delay in addressing a critical safety defect (airbags) puts me and other owners at risk. I am submitting this complaint in hopes that NHTSA can hold Toyota accountable and accelerate a fix or require them to offer alternatives such as a buyback, permanent replacement, or compensation. The prolonged unavailability and loss of use of a vehicle due to a safety defect, especially with no viable end in sight, is unacceptable. Vehicle Info: - Year: 2021 - Make: Toyota - Model: RAV4 - VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11690376

Sep 26, 2025Airbags

I received notice of the recall for front passenger seat airbag sensors in Dec 2023, with assurances that it would be fixed by a certain quarter, which kept getting pushed out for almost 2 years now. I haven't received any further updates in the mail or email and had to call the dealer and Toyota directly to get any updates or info. They finally had an update that the remedy fix would happen in phases. I'm in CA and the last phase 8 which is estimated for Jan 2026. I do not have confidence that the fix will happen by then as these dates have continuously been delayed for 2 years. We've been driving our cars with a potentially unsafe situation for a long time. How will we as consumers really know when our car can be fixed?

NHTSA ODI 11689957

Sep 23, 2025Airbags

On 9/20, I started receiving a dashboard notification alerting me of an airbag system failure (see photo) - that was unable to be dismissed for longer than 15-20 seconds obstructing my odometer, speedometer and gas meter. On 9/23, I had an appointment and was informed my car needed a “clock spring assy”. My car is not driven frequently and not even four years old yet.

NHTSA ODI 11689159

Sep 21, 2025Airbags

The manufacturer has failed to provide a remedy in a timely manner. Toyota said a remedy would be ready October 2024. A year later, and there's no fix and no update to the remedy status.

NHTSA ODI 11688734

Sep 18, 2025Transmission & drivetrainEngineDriver assistance

I have a carbon monoxide leak going on since I bought this vehicle. I have been complaining about noises I have been hearing from the drive train and got a diagnosis from the same dealer with well over 1k worth of work. This has caused me a lot of lost money since I have been from dr to dr and back and forth with the dealership and now I tested for carbon monoxide and it’s leaking into my vehicle the dealer keeps telling me it’s fine it need a tune up or evap system clean. I am not able to drive this car safely and I have permanent brain damages from the carbon monoxide gas

NHTSA ODI 11688113

Sep 17, 2025Seats

My driver seat suddenly stopped working correctly when trying to move the seat forward or backward. It would make this lagging noise and feel like it was jumping. We had to keep the seat in the position that would be safe for me to sit in and operate the car effectively, but needed to get it fixed because my partner could not sit in the same position and operate the vehicle safely from that position. Took my car to the dealership and they found the track on the right side of the seat was inoperable and the whole bottom frame needed to be replaced. The tech could not produce a reason why this happened, simply saying it gave out. No messages or other symptoms prior to the failure. It happened quickly, one day it was working fine and the next it failed.

NHTSA ODI 11687825

Sep 11, 2025Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel system

1. My vehicle had a hybrid warnings and stopped running altogether, but the issue went away after clearing the codes. It came back at 105000mi, Toyota won't help with the $6000 repair. High Voltage Under Floor Cable and Traction Motor Cable on my vehicle (2021 Hybrid Rav4 XLE registered in Massachusetts) is affected by excessive and dangerous corrosion due to a Toyota design issue. 2. The vehicle could suddenly shut off at highway speeds per Matt with Service at Autofair Toyota Tewksbury. Sudden stoppage or deceleration may result in fatal collisions at speed. This failure also leads to fatally high-voltage energizing of the chassis and other frame components in some cases. 3. This is a known design flaw on Toyota hybrid, high-voltage cables/connectors, leading to excessive corrosion and dangerous failure of the hybrid system. There is an extended Toyota customer support program (CSP: 22TE09) valid through 8 years or 100000mi. I purchased the vehicle at 92,000mi but the dealership (CarFive Nashua, NH) and Toyota failed to inform me of this issue (a standard procedure per the CSP) so I could make an informed decision and perform preventative maintenance. Toyota did send me notice of an airbag recall after purchase, so I know they had my information. Now they have left me without options at 105000mi. 4. Yes. It has been inspected and the high voltage cable corrosion confirmed by Autofair Toyota Tewksbury (MA). Image from diagnosis video attached. 5. Warning messages in OBD2 screenshot attached. 6. I'm looking for Toyota to cover the repair for this issue; I've had to repair a valve head gasket and replace the AC system condenser already and this car is barely 4 years old.

NHTSA ODI 11686648

Sep 10, 2025Airbags

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure related to the recall. The manufacturer was not contacted.

NHTSA ODI 11686267

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Working with the data? Download all 377 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 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hv verdict →