2020 Toyota RAV4: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 611 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the engine, electrical, and fuel system. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2020- Owner complaints
- 611
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes reported
- 16
- 13 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2020 Toyota RAV4: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/4
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/3
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/1
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which RAV4 is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2020 Toyota RAV4. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cylGas | AWD, FWD | 30 mpg |
| 2.5L 4-cylHybrid | AWD | 40 mpg |
- The 2020 Toyota RAV4 was sold in two versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- On the hybrid, watch for the car moving off on electric power at low speed and for any hybrid system warning on the dash.
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A RAV4 that averages well under the EPA 30 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Sunroof glass shattering
5,000–18,000 miles
Coolant bypass valve failure
30,000–66,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Toyota RAV4, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Engine134No crashes
A failed coolant bypass valve is by far the most common report. It triggers an "Engine Maintenance Required, Visit Your Dealer" message that cannot be cleared, often appearing only when the A/C or heater is on. Failures cluster between roughly 27,300 and 55,000 miles, after the basic warranty ends, and dealers usually quote around $700 for the repair. Some technicians warn that leaving it unfixed risks overheating. A smaller group reports batteries that go dead after one day parked on cars under 10,000 miles, with no fault found.
The same bypass valve fault shows up here, between about 30,000 and 66,000 miles. One owner needed the valve replaced twice, and others waited on backordered parts. Several owners cite an engine cooling recall whose parts were unavailable. More serious cases include overheating and shuddering at highway speed, white smoke from coolant intrusion that required a new engine at about 100,000 miles, and a car that caught fire while parked and unoccupied. The fire department blamed the electrical system or fuel pump.
Electrical1091 crash
Warning messages that cover the speedometer and other gauge readouts lead these reports. The cause is usually a coolant bypass valve that leaks into its electrical connector and shorts. The second pattern is battery drain: low-mileage cars go dead after sitting less than 24 hours, and some owners replace the battery several times. One parked car caught fire weeks after a dealer software update for battery drain, though the fire marshal could not determine the cause. One crash report blames a brake failure.
Fuel system79No crashes
Hybrid models will not take a full tank. The pump shuts off at roughly 8 to 11 gallons even though the tank is rated at 14.5, so real range runs around 370 to 430 miles instead of the advertised figure near 580. The problem appears from the first fill-up. Some owners say the distance-to-empty reading is wrong and they nearly ran out of fuel. Dealers often call it normal, and some owners say a tank replacement under the recall improved capacity only slightly or not at all.
Airbags507 crashes
Most of these filings concern a recall for a front passenger airbag that may not deploy because of faulty occupant classification sensors. Owners report waiting a year or more because the remedy parts are unavailable, and dealers keep telling them no fix exists yet. Separately, there are 7 crash reports in which airbags did not deploy, including frontal, side, and rear impacts, with 3 injuries. Some of these owners got the recall notice only after their crash.
Body and structure422 crashes
Rear liftgate hinges bend, loosen, or tear away from their mounts, so the hatch sits crooked and will not close fully. One report puts this at about 22,500 miles, and owners say they paid for the fix themselves. Other complaints include door lock actuators failing on all four doors after the warranty, sunroof glass shattering on the highway, peeling hood paint on Blueprint-colored cars, water sloshing inside the doors, and costly front-end damage from a very low-speed bump.
Transmission34No crashes
An engine maintenance warning that will not clear leads these reports, traced to a failed coolant bypass valve between about 38,000 and 59,210 miles. The warning often shows up right after a routine service visit, and the powertrain warranty does not cover it. Hybrid owners also describe sudden power loss on the highway with a "Hybrid System Malfunction" warning, plus grinding in reverse. One car stalled on the highway and set off multiple warning lights. In one report, the car rolled and ran over its owner after they stepped out.
Steering261 crash
Electric power steering assist cuts out for a moment, a warning flashes, then clears. Some owners see this many times over a few months, mostly in the first minutes of driving. Others get an "Engine Stopped, Steering Power Low" message as the engine shuts off and the car will not move. Cars pulling left or right, with or without lane assist, is another pattern, along with grinding or crunching when turning. One owner says the car had the recalled failure but their VIN was not covered.
Acceleration and cruise control72 crashes
Two crash reports describe the car surging forward at low speed in a parking lot and hitting a building, with 3 injuries between them. A hybrid lost all accelerator response in traffic after a hybrid system warning. Radar cruise control sometimes detects a collision that is not there and brakes hard, including in slushy snow. One dealer fixed this by cleaning the grille emblem that houses the sensor. Lane centering with cruise control can also drift toward the left edge of the lane.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints RAV4 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Engine maintenance light comes on this is not the maintenance light this morning light is not in the owner's manual I had to Google the problem to find out the answer it is a faulty coolant bypass valve my car has 47,000 miles other people have reported the same issue Toyota won't acknowledge and won't fix the problem there are complaints from many other people about this
Filed with NHTSA, May 2024
2020 RAV4 with 47,589 miles. The engine maintenance light came on. It turns off once I shut off the vehicle and start it up again. It only comes back on when I put the air conditioner or heater on. I was told it's the heater control valve/coolant bypass valve and would cost around $900+ to repair. I did some research and see that this problem is occurring alot.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2023
Car sat for 4 days while we here hiking. Battery went dead. We were 15 miles up a gravel road and thankfully someone came by who had jumper cables. Reported issue to Toyota today and will take to dealer. Apparently, Toyota has no current fix for the battery drain when vehicle is off. Searched online and found 100s of reports of this same issue from 2019, 2020 rav4 owners, both hybrid and non-hybrid.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2021
Car has 26K miles on it (3 year 2 months old). A light appears saying Emergency Engine Maintenance is required. After research as this error is not in manual, found out it was a failed coolant bypass valve and this was a common failure/faulty equipment but we are being asked to pay full price to repair. A simple internet search shows 100's of consumers with same issue in same model and low miles.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2023
My car’s distance to empty never goes above 420 miles, despite a visit to the Lexington MA Toyota dealership with this complaint. Published range is about 580 miles. The dealership reset values in the car, but this did not make any difference, and at no point during my ownership of the car (which was bought new) has the range on the dashboard when the tank is full exceeded 430 miles.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2021
Recall for passenger air bag may not deploy. Remedy is not yet avaliable, I purchased a safe vehicle for my family and now I shouldn’t have passengers in the front. Vehicle was in an accident 7/29/2024 and air bags did not deploy. I feel very unsafe driving this vehicle. Vehicle is still waiting for parts to be repaired from accident.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2024
I was traveling at approximately 40mph when a car ran a light and came across in front of me at an intersection. I T-boned the other persons car which totaled my vehicle. The airbags in my vehicle did not deploy and I feel they should have. I was injured and have been to a doctor.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2023
How the 2020 compares with other RAV4 years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2020 ranks second for owner complaints among 8 RAV4 years, about 2.0 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Engine13425
- Electrical10948
- Fuel system7937
- Airbags5029
- Body and structure4215
- Transmission3421
Where the 2020 fits in the RAV4's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2020 is the second model year of the RAV4's fifth generation (2019–2025).
Toyota updated the RAV4 for 2022, so a 2020 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2022 (not on a 2020)
- New LED projector type headlights
- New alloy wheels
- USB-C charging ports
Recalls to confirm (6)
Recall repairs are free at any Toyota dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
23V865000AirbagsDec 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
20V734000AirbagsNov 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon and 2020 Avalon Hybrid, RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection.".
Risk: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.
20V682000Fuel systemNov 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
20V373000SteeringJun 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 RAV4 and 2020 RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS). Water may enter through the steering gear box cover and cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
Risk: A loss of power steering assist could increase steering effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear box, free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB11 / 20TA11.
20V286000SuspensionMay 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. The front lower suspension arms may have cracks, which may result in the suspension arm separating from the front wheel assembly.
Risk: If a suspension control arm breaks, it can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower suspension arms, free of charge. This recall began August 10, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's interim numbers for this recall are 20TB08 / 20TA08.
20V064000EngineFeb 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid and Lexus ES300h and 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with 2.5L 4-Cylinder engines. Porosity in the engine castings may result in cracks than can allow coolant to leak internally and/or externally.
Risk: A coolant leak can cause the engine to overheat and cause a vehicle stall in conventional gasoline vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, for all involved vehicles, the engine may get damaged mechanically, possibly resulting in an engine oil leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine including the engine block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 3, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA04. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA02.
Also looking at these instead of a RAV4?
Cars shoppers compare with the Toyota RAV4, with their own 2020 checklists.
2020 owner complaints, side by side
- Kia Sportage139
- Hyundai Tucson153
- GMC Terrain160
- Honda CR-V358
- Subaru Forester584
- 2020 Toyota RAV4611
- Ford Escape1,667
