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2019 Toyota Rav4
Common Problems

Ranked from 353 federal NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

2
Safety
5
High severity
2
Medium
2 problems on this vehicle involve a crash, fire, or injury risk. If you are experiencing one, stop driving and have it inspected.

9 Common Problems

Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.

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  1. 1

    Coolant Bypass Valve Failure

    147complaints
    High severityEngine

    The coolant bypass valve is failing, leading to engine overheating and requiring expensive repairs.

    Related recall: 20V064000

  2. 2

    Fuel tank unable to fill to advertised capacity

    118complaints
    High severityFuel system

    The fuel tank can only be filled to about 9 gallons out of an advertised 14.5 gallons, severely reducing driving range.

    $300–$1,200est. fuel line/tank repair · 26 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

    Related recall: 20V682000

  3. 3

    Fuel gauge inaccurate or underestimates remaining range

    96complaints
    Safety riskFuel system

    The fuel gauge underestimates the amount of fuel remaining, leading to shorter driving ranges than advertised.

    Related recall: 20V682000

  4. 4

    Engine Maintenance Light Persistent

    88complaints
    Safety riskEngine

    The 'Engine Maintenance Required' light persists despite no codes being present, indicating a coolant bypass valve issue.

    Related recall: 20V064000

  5. 5

    Transmission and Engine Issues

    9complaints
    High severityTransmission

    Multiple reports of transmission and engine problems, including stalling and malfunctioning systems.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 18 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  6. 6

    Door Sealing Issues

    4complaints
    Medium severityOther

    Water leaks into the doors during heavy rains, causing water accumulation and potential electrical failures.

    Related recalls: 19V503000, 19V244000

  7. 7

    Power Steering Issues

    4complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    Power steering issues occur, including loss of power steering fluid and malfunctioning power steering units.

    $200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 16 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

    Related recall: 20V373000

  8. 8

    Structural Component Failure

    3complaints
    High severityOther

    Structural components such as liftgate hinges and rear hatch hinges fail, risking injury and vehicle instability.

    Related recalls: 19V503000, 19V244000

  9. 9

    Coolant system failure

    2complaints
    High severityEngine

    The coolant bypass valve fails, leading to engine overheating and potential coolant leaks into the electrical harness, posing a safety hazard.

    Related recall: 20V064000

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.

2019 Toyota Rav4 Problems & Recalls | WrenchConnect