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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2021 Toyota Rav4
Common Problems

Ranked from 119 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

4
Safety
3
High severity
10
Medium
3
Low
4 problems on this vehicle involve a crash, fire, or injury risk. If you are experiencing one, stop driving and have it inspected.

20 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

    Recall Issues with Air Bag Deployment

    50complaints
    Safety riskElectrical

    Issues with the Occupant Classification System (OCS) leading to delayed or unavailable recall repairs, potentially preventing airbags from deploying.

  2. 2

    Electrical System Warnings

    15complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    Multiple electrical system warnings appear on the dashboard, indicating potential underlying issues.

  3. 3

    Recall Delay

    12complaints
    Low severityOther

    Recall repairs for various issues are delayed, causing frustration and safety concerns.

  4. 4

    Sunroof spontaneous explosion

    9complaints
    Safety riskOther

    The sunroof of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 spontaneously explodes while driving, causing glass shrapnel to fly.

  5. 5

    Door lock actuator failures

    8complaints
    Safety riskOther

    Multiple instances of door lock actuators failing to function properly, creating a security risk.

    $200–$600est. door lock/latch repair · 1–2.5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  6. 6

    Steering Angle Sensor Fault

    6complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    The steering angle sensor is faulty, causing the steering warning light to come on.

    $100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  7. 7

    Sunroof Malfunction

    6complaints
    Medium severityOther

    Sunroofs have spontaneously shattered during normal driving conditions, posing a risk of injury from flying glass.

  8. 8

    Fuel tank does not fill to advertised capacity

    5complaints
    Medium severityFuel system

    The fuel tank does not fill to its advertised capacity, leading to reduced range.

    $300–$1,200est. fuel line/tank repair · 2–6 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  9. 9

    Brake System Malfunction

    4complaints
    High severityBrakes

    The brake system intermittently fails to function properly, leading to sudden and uncontrolled vehicle movements.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  10. 10

    Sunroof Explosions

    4complaints
    High severityOther

    Sunroofs spontaneously exploded during driving, causing glass to shatter and fall on occupants.

  11. 11

    Airbag Deployment Without Collision

    3complaints
    Safety riskElectrical

    The airbags deploy unexpectedly without a collision, posing a risk of injury to occupants.

  12. 12

    Electrical system failures leading to unexpected vehicle behavior

    3complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The 2021 Toyota RAV4 experiences unexpected vehicle behavior, such as sudden acceleration and brake failure, due to electrical system issues.

  13. 13

    Structural issues leading to unexpected vehicle behavior

    3complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The 2021 Toyota RAV4 experiences unexpected vehicle behavior, such as sudden acceleration and brake failure, due to structural issues.

  14. 14

    Coolant Bypass Valve Malfunction

    2complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    The coolant bypass valve is malfunctioning, leading to engine issues.

  15. 15

    Fuel tank capacity issue

    2complaints
    Medium severityFuel system

    The 2021 Toyota RAV4 fuel tank does not hold the advertised 14.5 gallons, leading to frequent refueling stops.

    $300–$1,200est. fuel line/tank repair · 2–6 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  16. 16

    Lane departure assistance over-correction leading to accidents

    2complaints
    High severitySteering

    The lane departure assistance system in the 2021 Toyota RAV4 over-corrects, causing the vehicle to veer into oncoming traffic or obstacles.

  17. 17

    Low Tire Pressure Causing Wobble

    2complaints
    Medium severityOther

    Incorrectly installed tires cause the vehicle to wobble and experience low tire pressure, leading to loss of control.

  18. 18

    Steering system malfunction causing erratic behavior

    2complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    The 2021 Toyota RAV4 experiences erratic steering behavior, including sudden loss of control and difficulty maintaining lane position.

  19. 19

    Visibility Issues

    2complaints
    Low severityOther

    Side mirrors vibrate excessively, making it difficult to use them safely.

  20. 20

    Visibility issues with the front windshield

    2complaints
    Low severityOther

    The front windshield of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 develops cracks or distortions, affecting the driver's visibility.

Other years & sources

2010 Toyota Rav42011 Toyota Rav42016 Toyota Rav42017 Toyota Rav42018 Toyota Rav42019 Toyota Rav42020 Toyota Rav42022 Toyota Rav42023 Toyota Rav42024 Toyota Rav4All NHTSA complaints for this vehicle →

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.

2021 Toyota Rav4 Problems & Recalls | WrenchConnect