2015 Toyota RAV4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
303 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
35,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 170 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 83 of 303 complaints (27.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 60 | 19.8% |
| Braking behavior | 54 | 17.8% |
| Steering behavior | 47 | 15.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 25 | 8.3% |
| Engine operation | 22 | 7.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 1.3% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 83 |
| Unknown Or Other | 60 |
| Steering | 45 |
| Engine | 37 |
| Service Brakes | 30 |
| Structure:Body | 26 |
| Power Train | 23 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 |
Electrical System: 83; Unknown Or Other: 60; Steering: 45; Engine: 37; Service Brakes: 30; Structure:Body: 26; Power Train: 23; Vehicle Speed Control: 20
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 70 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 37 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 27 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 70; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 27; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (70). 133 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 37 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2017 | 26 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 31 |
| 2022 | 35 |
| 2023 | 34 |
| 2024 | 30 |
| 2025 | 21 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2014: 1; 2015: 37; 2016: 22; 2017: 26; 2018: 14; 2019: 22; 2020: 23; 2021: 31; 2022: 35; 2023: 34; 2024: 30; 2025: 21; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 60 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 54 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 47 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 10779880 · 2015-10-05 (October 5, 2015)
AFTER 10 DAYS OF OWNING THE CAR AND LESS THAN 600 MILES THE CAR WOULDN'T RUN AND WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A RODENT. LATER THAT SAME EVENING OUR SALESMAN CALLED AND INFORMED US THAT COMPONENTS IN THE CAR ARE "GREEN" AND MADE OF SOYBEAN AND TO KEEP OUR CAR IN THE GARAGE (WHICH WE DON'T HAVE). I HAVE SINCE CAUGHT A MOUSE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WITH A GLUE TRAP AND FOUND HAIR AND MOUSE DROPPINGS. THE BEST OFFER THEY HAVE GIVEN ME IS TO GIVE ME A DIFFERENT…
Owner-reported narrative. 612 miles reported. Look up ODI 10779880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10862741 · 2016-05-03 (May 3, 2016)
THE LIGHT ON THE CRUISE CONTROL STALK BLINKS AND IT IS VERY DISTRACTING AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STARTED DROPPING OUT WHILE DRIVING. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR CODES WERE STORED IN THE COMPUTER WHEN CHECKED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, BUT THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. THE ENGINE STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A TOTAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND WOULD TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART DUE TO NO ELECTRICAL POWER. THE DEALER THEN ADJUSTED THE SWITCH ON THE BRAKE PEDAL …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10743781 · 2015-07-27 (July 27, 2015)
I USED TO HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS RAV 4 LIMITED. SOMETIMES WHEN I PARK, I FORGET TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK (I NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN WITH MY HIGHLANDER) AND THEN TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. MY HIGHLANDER DID NOT DO THIS. TODAY MY CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. I FELL DOWN AND MY ELBOW AND ARM IS REALLY SCRAPPED UP AS I WAS TRYING TO STOP THE CAR WITH MY BODY AND THEN I WAS ALMOST RUN OVER AS I FELL ON THE GROUND. I COULD HAVE HIT A CHILD OR RUN OVER A CHILD. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10743781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10744552 · 2015-07-29 (July 29, 2015)
I PURCHASE THE RAV4 IN OCTOBER 2015, AND THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A CRUNCHING SOUND COMING FROM MY BRAKES AND A FLUCTUATION ISSUE WHERE THE BRAKES DO NOT ALWAYS CATCH CAUSING A SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALER AND TOYOTA ARE REFUSING ON TWO OCCASIONS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AGAIN ON 7/28/2015 IN HOPES THAT THEY WILL FINALLY FIX THE ISSUE. THE DEALER WILL NOT DOCUMENT THE ISSUE!
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10744552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10716496 · 2015-05-14 (May 14, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING) AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.. WHEN THE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT SEND ANY AND WOULD NOT PAY FOR A REPAIR UNTIL THE DEALER SENT PHOTOS SHOWING THE NEED FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AGAIN AND CONFIRMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER MADE THAT REQUIREMENT.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10716496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10716667 · 2015-05-15 (May 15, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15VI44000 (STEERING) WAS RECEIVED IN MARCH OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10716667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10767530 · 2015-09-22 (September 22, 2015)
TLA* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND CAME TO A STOP AFTER THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200. UPDATED 11/04/15*LJ; 03/19/18 JB*05/15/18*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10767530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10781506 · 2015-10-13 (October 13, 2015)
NEW VEHICLE 625 MILES. DOES NOT SEEM TO SHIFT INTO THE CORRECT GEAR WHEN ATTEMPTING ACCELERATION UP HILLS OR FROM PARKING LOT TO ROADWAY ,OR PASSING VEHICLES. DOES NOT HAVE ADEQUATE POWER, ENGINE MAKES A STRAINING SOUND . WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO DRIVE UP HILLS, PASS OTHER VEHICLES ESPECIALLY ON HILL. SANTIAM HIWAY OREGON. LESS POWER THAN LITTLE KIA AND PT CRUISER WHICH EASILY PASSED ME. DEALER HAD ME COMPARE IT TO A SIMILAR MODEL ON THEIR LOT, NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE, LOT VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED TOYOTAS SINCE 198…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10781506 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10809623 · 2015-12-11 (December 11, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE THAT PROGRESSED RANDOMLY. VARIOUS WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT TO START ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED SEVERAL TIMES AND ALSO WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN THREE TIMES AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MORE THAN ONCE AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE CONDITION. THE VEHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10761730 · 2015-09-04 (September 4, 2015)
AFTER GASSING UP IN A STATION (FULL TANK) AND THE GAS NOZZLE CLICKED TO A STOP, SOON AS EXTRACTING THE NOZZLE FROM THE RAV4, FUEL SPRAYS WITH A FORCE OF PRESSURE FROM THE GAS TANK TOWARDS THE PERSON HOLDING THE NOZZLE. AFTER THIS EVENT HAPPENED THE THIRD TIME, WE BROUGHT THE RAV4 BACK TO TOYOTA TO BE CHECKED. WAS RETURNED TO US THE NEXT DAY WITH AN OK RESULT. BUT THE NEXT 2 TO 5 WEEKS THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED, SO WE REQUESTED THAT A REPLACEMENT RAV4 BE GIVEN US - BUT TOYOTA REFUSED STATING THAT WITH THE WARRANTY, THEY WILL NOW PERFORM A RIG…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,897 miles reported. Look up ODI 10761730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10809611 · 2015-12-11 (December 11, 2015)
PURCHASED THIS CAR DEALER CERTIFIED AFTER BEING LEASED FOR 9 MONTHS BY SOMEONE ELSE, FROM NEW ROCHELLE TOYOTA. HAD 5700 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. SINCE PURCHASE IT DOES NOT ALWAYS START THE FIRST TIME, SOMETIMES TAKING 3-4 TIMES TO START, AND MAKING STRANGE NOISES, IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS GOING TO START AND THEN DIES. HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP 3 TIMES AND GOING IN FOR THE 4TH TIME TODAY, ON 12/4 A NEW FUEL PUMP RELAY WAS INSTALLED, STARTS BETTER BUT STILL UNKNOWN REASON WHY IT AT TIMES IT STILL TAKES 3-4 TIMES TO START IT. IS A MYSTERY , NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10809611 at NHTSA ↗