Toyota RAV4 2013–2018
4th generation (XA40)
NHTSA data through 13 August 20262,158 complaints, 1,191 with mileageMethod
- Reports with mileage
- 1,191
- Median of reported failures
- 21,000 mi
- Most-reported system
- Electrical system (24.3%)
- Recalls
- 9
Before-you-buy checklist ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
On this generation, 40% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 8 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000.
Figure 1 · Toyota RAV4 2013–2018 · 1,191 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 10,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 432 complaints.
- First 12,000 miles — 40% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 7 complaints (0.6%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 320
- 25%
- 5,000
- Median
- 21,210
- 75%
- 54,968
- 90%
- 91,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 432 | 36.3% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 138 | 11.6% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 103 | 8.6% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 103 | 8.6% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 95 | 8.0% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 52 | 4.4% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 56 | 4.7% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 53 | 4.5% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 27 | 2.3% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 32 | 2.7% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 26 | 2.2% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 14 | 1.2% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 17 | 1.4% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 14 | 1.2% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 5 | 0.4% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 4 | 0.3% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 7 | 0.6% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 1 | 0.1% |
| 200,000+ | 7 | 0.6% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 2,158 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013–2018 Toyota RAV4, and 1,191 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
40% of complaints that record mileage fall within the first 12,000 miles, against 8 reports per 1,000 miles between 20,000 and 80,000. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are the electrical system (24.3% of complaints, typically around 40,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (14.3% of complaints, typically around 26,000 miles), the engine (8.6% of complaints, typically around 37,000 miles).
9 recall campaigns cover this generation.
If you arrived asking “is it reliable?” — this page answers the version of that question the data can support: which problems owners reported, and at what mileage.
How many miles does a 2013–2018 Toyota RAV4 last?
Half of the failure reports on the 2013–2018 Toyota RAV4 were filed by 21,000 miles and 90% by 91,000 miles — figures drawn from 1,191 NHTSA complaints that record an odometer reading, so they time reported failures, not the cars whose owners never filed one.
7 reports (0.6%) came in past 200,000 miles — each one proof a RAV4 reached that mileage, not that it died there.
Before you buy a 2013–2018 RAV4: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,191 mileage-tagged complaints, 9 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 9 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Ask for exterior lighting repair records. This area fails at a median of 7,500 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Ask for throttle and speed control repair records. This area fails at a median of 11,000 miles — on any car this age it already happened or never will; the question is whether it was fixed under warranty.
- Check fuel system on 2018 cars. Denso low-pressure fuel pump impeller cracking causing stalling; the recall population extends into MY2018-2019 RAV4s.
- Check general on 2013–2018 cars. No dominant systemic mechanical defect — this generation is the reliability high-water mark of the nameplate; complaint volume is concentrated in infotainment, HVAC and paint rather than powertrain.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 40% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the electrical system and problems owners could not categorise are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 26,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
What fails, and when
Figure 2 · Toyota RAV4 2013–2018
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Brakes173 reports15,0004,500–36,000Brakes: 173 reports, median 15,000 miles, middle half 4,500 to 36,000 miles.
- Body structure123 reports17,0002,500–55,000Body structure: 123 reports, median 17,000 miles, middle half 2,500 to 55,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise309 reports26,0005,500–50,000Problems owners could not categorise: 309 reports, median 26,000 miles, middle half 5,500 to 50,000 miles.
- Steering109 reports26,0004,500–91,000Steering: 109 reports, median 26,000 miles, middle half 4,500 to 91,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline127 reports35,0009,000–78,000Transmission and driveline: 127 reports, median 35,000 miles, middle half 9,000 to 78,000 miles.
- Engine185 reports37,0008,500–70,000Engine: 185 reports, median 37,000 miles, middle half 8,500 to 70,000 miles.
- Electrical system525 reports40,0007,000–77,000Electrical system: 525 reports, median 40,000 miles, middle half 7,000 to 77,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 525 | 24.3% | 40,000 | 7,000–77,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 309 | 14.3% | 26,000 | 5,500–50,000 |
| Engine | 185 | 8.6% | 37,000 | 8,500–70,000 |
| Brakes | 173 | 8.0% | 15,000 | 4,500–36,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 127 | 5.9% | 35,000 | 9,000–78,000 |
| Body structure | 123 | 5.7% | 17,000 | 2,500–55,000 |
| Steering | 109 | 5.1% | 26,000 | 4,500–91,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 101 | 4.7% | 7,500 | 1,000–30,000 |
| Airbag system | 95 | 4.4% | 20,000 | 6,000–40,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 89 | 4.1% | 11,000 | 3,000–26,000 |
Where your car sits
Failure reports by the odometer reading they were filed at. Pick the anchor nearest your car — or type the exact mileage: your marker lands on this curve and on the timing chart above.
Figure 3 · Toyota RAV4 2013–2018 · 1,191 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 77% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 89% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 95% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it below
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 0.6% of reports (7) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
At 60,000 miles
77% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Problems owners could not categorise — median 26,000 mi
- Brakes — median 15,000 mi
- Body structure — median 17,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Electrical system — middle half 7,000–77,000 mi
- Engine — middle half 8,500–70,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — middle half 9,000–78,000 mi
- Steering — middle half 4,500–91,000 mi
At 90,000 miles
89% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Electrical system — median 40,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — median 26,000 mi
- Engine — median 37,000 mi
- Brakes — median 15,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 35,000 mi
- Body structure — median 17,000 mi
In the reporting window
- Steering — middle half 4,500–91,000 mi
At 120,000 miles
95% of the failure reports on this generation came below this mileage. That describes reports, not your odds.
Reported earlier than this mileage — ask for repair records
- Electrical system — median 40,000 mi
- Problems owners could not categorise — median 26,000 mi
- Engine — median 37,000 mi
- Brakes — median 15,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline — median 35,000 mi
- Body structure — median 17,000 mi
- Steering — median 26,000 mi
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 21,210 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 24.3% of complaints (525 reports, 226 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 40,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,000 and 77,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 14.3% of complaints (309 reports, 142 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 26,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,500 and 50,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 8.6% of complaints (185 reports, 97 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 37,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 8,500 and 70,000 miles.
The brakes account for 8.0% of complaints (173 reports, 122 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 15,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,500 and 36,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 5.9% of complaints (127 reports, 69 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 35,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 9,000 and 78,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 5.7% of complaints (123 reports, 75 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 17,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,500 and 55,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2018 model year drew the most — 443 complaints — while 2014 drew the fewest at 278. The median year sits at 365.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 9 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around equipment (4), the electrical system (1), the tyres (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 2,158 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 274 (12.7%)
- Fires
- 248
- Injury reports
- 152
- Fatality reports
- 6
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Documented problems
Fuel System 2018
Denso low-pressure fuel pump impeller cracking causing stalling; the recall population extends into MY2018-2019 RAV4s.
General 2013–2018
No dominant systemic mechanical defect — this generation is the reliability high-water mark of the nameplate; complaint volume is concentrated in infotainment, HVAC and paint rather than powertrain.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 332 | 214 |
| 2014 | 278 | 147 |
| 2015 | 399 | 235 |
| 2016 | 293 | 185 |
| 2017 | 413 | 216 |
| 2018 | 443 | 194 |
Recalls (9) — is your car included?
Dec 2024 · 2013–2018 · Electrical SystemA battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
What can happen. A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
Aug 2019 · 2017–2018 · EquipmentAn incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, RAV4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
What can happen. An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
Jan 2018 · 2018 · EquipmentAn incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the…
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
What can happen. An incorrect load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.
Jun 2017 · 2017 · TiresA spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
What can happen. A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.
Jun 2016 · 2016 · EquipmentAn incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, RAV4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
What can happen. An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.
May 2016 · 2016 · Electronic Stability Control (esc)Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 30, 2015, to February 3, 2016, 2016 Lexus RX350 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2015, to February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal M
What can happen. Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.
May 2015 · 2014–2015 · SteeringAn unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 RAV4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.
What can happen. An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Mar 2015 · 2013–2015 · Trailer HitchesIf the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is…
The defect. Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
What can happen. If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
The free fix. SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
Feb 2015 · 2014–2015 · EquipmentAccessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.
The defect. Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed. The accessory attaching fasteners were not tightened with the proper torque, possibly causing the accessory to detach from the vehicle.
What can happen. Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.
The free fix. SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-14B.
What owners reported
the contact owns a 2013 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds during the day, she was unable to see the navigation screen due to an intense glare, even on cloudy days. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 6…
2013 · 6 miles · Electrical system
I have a 2013 Toyota RAV4 limited. In any significant ambient light level, the navigation screen is not visible. The glare on the screen is horrific. Notified dealership. They checked it out and confirmed that i did, indeed, have a problem. Dealership made an appointment with me to meet with a factory rep. I met with…
2013 · 7 miles · Electrical system
The installed navigation screen is impossible to see in the driver's normal driving position and in almost any daytime lighting condition. Glare from the screen and dashboard borders on unsafe. There is no way to safely use that item and the 12 or so functions located there without significant distraction. Because of…
2013 · 12 miles · Body structure
While accelerating from approximately 20 MPH, a jerk was felt and a noise was heard as the vehicle was shifting gears. (This vehicle is an automatic.) This same incident occurred again later the same day. However, after the second incident, the "check engine" light and the "traction control" light came on. This…
2013 · 15 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 1,191 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-18 · open data · reproduce this page