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U.S. public vehicle records

Toyota RAV4 EV problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

21 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

18,025 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 to 2014 model years. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 21 complaints (42.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues314.3%
Braking behavior29.5%
Transmission and shifting14.8%
Steering behavior14.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train
9
Fuel/Propulsion System
7
Electrical System
4
Unknown Or Other
3
Engine
2
Seat Belts
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Visibility/Wiper
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train9
Fuel/Propulsion System7
Electrical System4
Unknown Or Other3
Engine2
Seat Belts2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Visibility/Wiper2

Power Train: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Electrical System: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Engine: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Visibility/Wiper: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
11
25,000 to 49,999
6
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00011
25,000 to 49,9996
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2014
5
2015
9
2016
4
2017
1
2018
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20145
20159
20164
20171
20182

2014: 5; 2015: 9; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 2

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10811744 · 2015-12-22 (December 22, 2015)

ON OCTOBER 17 SHORTLY BEFORE 2 PM PST IN CLEAR WEATHER, I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT ABOUT 2 TO 3 MPH. I TURNED THE VEHICLE INTO THE SPOT AND APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR SURGED OVER THE CURB, HIT A TREE, WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED ONTO A PARKED CAR. (THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES.) THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. FINALLY I DEPRESSED THE IGNITION BUTTON FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND IT TURNED OFF. JUST 5 DAYS EARLIER, THE CAR HAD UNDERGONE A SAFETY RECALL REPA…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,296 miles reported. Look up ODI 10811744 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10607873 · 2014-07-02 (July 2, 2014)

WHILE CHARGING THE CAR AT A SCHNEIDER PUBLIC CHARGING STATION, EXTREME HEAT AND ELECTRICAL ARCING RESULTED IN HEAT/BURNING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND DAMAGE TO THE CHARGING STATION. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, WHILE CHARGING AT THE SAME PUBLIC SCHNEIDER CHARGING STATION, ON MANY OCCASIONS, I NOTICED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL AND HEAT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10607873 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10667402 · 2014-12-20 (December 20, 2014)

WHILE DRIVING 35 ON A LOCAL ROAD, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER TO THE PROPULSION SYSTEM. POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WORKED AS I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO COAST SAFELY TO A TURNOUT. THE VEHICLE WARNING LIGHT SAYING "CHECK EV SYSTEM, HAVE DEALER CHECK IMMEDIATELY" WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INFORMATION DISPLAY. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE RAV4 EV AS THE TOYOTA AND TESLA PARTS HAVE TROUBLE MAINTAINING COMMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER WITHIN A PART CALLED THE GATEWAY ECM. MY CAR WAS SERVICED BY THE DEALER AFTER THIS INCIDENT, WHERE THEY UPDATED TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 8,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10667402 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10840133 · 2016-03-06 (March 6, 2016)

MY 2012 RAV4 EV HAS AN UNSAFE CONDITION WHERE THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION DOES NOT ACTUALLY ENGAGE FROM R TO D, OR D TO R WHEN STATIONARY, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE INSTRUMENTATION INDICATES SO. THE VEHICLE INSTEAD MOVES INADVERTENTLY IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. IT HAS BEEN A CHRONIC ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE, AND I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONDITION, BUT THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE WOULD BE INSTALLED AND MIGHT CORRECT THE MATTER. IT HAS NOT, AND MY WIFE A…

Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10840133 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2012
3
2013
3
2014
3
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20123
20133
20143

2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 3

Year-by-year records

Toyota RAV4 EV model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
201263Not available
2013530
20141030