2021 Toyota RAV4: What to check before buying

Failure to deploy in serious crashes is the main complaint. Reports cover head-on hits, side impacts, pole strikes, and rear-end chain collisions where front and side bags stayed folded, so drivers hit the steering wheel or window. Of 137 complaints, 29 involve crashes and 32 report injuries. A smaller group says the driver knee air bag went off with enough force to injure the shin or leg. Several owners mention recall 23V865000 and say the repair part was unavailable when they asked for it.

A sudden flood of dashboard warnings is the most common pattern. Owners list charging system malfunction, voltage abnormality, steering power low, brake power low, and pre-collision or parking brake faults, sometimes followed by stalling. Some see the steering message only while auto stop/start has shut off the engine at a light, and dealers often cannot reproduce it. Five complaints involve fire at the front bumper, tail light, or engine bay, and two of those cars had earlier front-end repairs. Others report a corroded high-voltage connector at the rear traction motor, plus sudden acceleration and lane-keeping crashes.

Fuel tanks that will not fill are the main complaint, mostly on Hybrid and Prime models. Owners say the 14.5-gallon tank takes only 10 to 11 gallons after the low-fuel light comes on, which cuts real range to about 400 miles. The pump clicks off early, or fuel surges back up the filler neck and spills. Owners also call the fuel gauge and miles-to-empty display unreliable. Toyota and dealers often call the shortfall normal or within spec. One owner notes that a fix offered on 2020 models was not extended to 2021. A leaking fuel line also appears.

Brakes that fail to stop the car are the most serious complaint. Pedals sink to the floor in parking lots or at traffic lights, and 4 complaints ended in crashes. Some drivers had to use the parking brake to stop. On hybrids, owners describe braking that briefly weakens or grinds over bumps while slowing, and a barking noise from behind the firewall that gets worse with miles. Others report pre-collision braking slamming on with nothing ahead, adaptive cruise braking too hard, and parking brake malfunction warnings. Dealers often find nothing wrong.

Brief loss of power steering is the common thread, usually flagged by a voltage abnormality or steering power low warning. It tends to appear while auto stop/start has shut off the engine at a light. Sometimes the car also shuts off or will not restart, even when the battery and alternator test fine. Dealers often cannot find a cause. More serious cases describe the car veering off the road, steering cutting out mid-turn, and lane-keeping assist pulling the car into roadside objects. A faulty steering angle sensor and a damaged rack also appear.

Water collecting inside the doors is the most repeated problem. Owners hear it slosh after rain and see it drain from the rear doors, with reports spanning 23,000 to 74,000 miles. Glass failures also appear: sunroofs and a side window shattered at highway speed with no impact, and the side window failure caused 2 injuries. Liftgate trouble includes leaking struts, misaligned hinges, and a hatch that will not close properly. Other reports cite a driver door that will not unlock, a loose underbody shield, peeling paint, and a hood that flexes above 40 mph.

Cars that move after being shifted into park are the most serious reports, and 2 complaints involve crashes. Other owners describe stumbling, hesitation, or lurching when accelerating gently from low speed, which dealers often cannot confirm. Hybrid owners report corroded high-voltage under-floor and traction motor cables that shut the car down, with one repair quoted at $6000 after the warranty ran out. Several complaints are about recall delays rather than new failures. These include the Prime DC-DC converter recall, which tells owners not to charge below 41 degrees until the fix arrives.

Coolant bypass valve failure is the main engine complaint. It usually shows up as an Engine Maintenance Required message or a check engine light, and dealers call it a common RAV4 problem. Owners say no warranty or recall covers it. Related coolant problems include a radiator with pinholes that caused overheating on the highway and a cracked engine block that needed a new short block. Other reports cite timing cover seepage at 59,150 miles, a loud foghorn-like noise after startup, and hybrid system faults that disable AWD and automatic emergency braking.