2020 Toyota RAV4 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
633 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
2,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 195 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 180 of 633 complaints (28.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 92 | 14.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 71 | 11.2% |
| Braking behavior | 34 | 5.4% |
| Steering behavior | 32 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 1.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 180 |
| Unknown Or Other | 120 |
| Electrical System | 117 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 89 |
| Air Bags | 54 |
| Structure:Body | 39 |
| Power Train | 38 |
| Steering | 27 |
Engine: 180; Unknown Or Other: 120; Electrical System: 117; Fuel/Propulsion System: 89; Air Bags: 54; Structure:Body: 39; Power Train: 38; Steering: 27
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 160 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 160; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (160). 438 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 146 |
| 2021 | 54 |
| 2022 | 42 |
| 2023 | 108 |
| 2024 | 176 |
| 2025 | 68 |
| 2026 | 36 |
2019: 3; 2020: 146; 2021: 54; 2022: 42; 2023: 108; 2024: 176; 2025: 68; 2026: 36
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 92 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 71 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 34 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 11315482 · 2020-03-01 (March 1, 2020)
I PURCHASED A NEW 2020 RAV4 XLE IN DECEMBER 2020, IT IS NOT EVEN 3 MONTHS OLD. I PARKED MY RAV4 IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER GETTING HOME FROM WORK. THE FOLLOWING MORNING MY CAR HAD A DEAD BATTERY. I HAD THE BATTERY JUMPED BY TOYOTA ROADSIDE SERVICE. THE CAR STARTED UP, AND I WAS TOLD TO LET THE ENGINE RUN FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES SO THE BATTERY COULD CHARGE. THERE'S NOTHING I COULD HAVE LEFT TURNED ON THE EVENING BEFORE THAT WOULD HAVE RUN THE BATTERY DOWN. IF YOU LEAVE A LIGHT ON, OR A DOOR AJAR THE LIGHTS GO OUT AFTER 20 MINUTES. THIS WAS NOT THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11315482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11318149 · 2020-03-15 (March 15, 2020)
THIS CAR IS NEW 800 MILES TOTALLY DEAD BATTERY.PARKED IN DRIVEWAY OVER NIGHT. TOW SERVICE TOOLS US WAS THE SECOND NEW RAV4 WITH A DEAD BATTERY TODAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11318149 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11292178 · 2019-12-30 (December 30, 2019)
VEHICLE INDICATES FUEL EMPTY (GAS GAUGE AND WARNINGS) AFTER APPROX 350 MILES. FUEL TANK SUPPOSED TO BE 14.5 GAL., BUT TANK ONLY ACCEPTS 9-10 GALLONS FUEL BEFORE SHUTOFF. 1 FULL TANK FROM DEALER PLUS 1 FILL-UP WITH SAME RESULT. VEHICLE ALSO ONLY AVERAGING 36 MPG AFTER 2 TANKS MOSTLY HIGHWAY & NOW INTO 1 TANK MIXED CITY/HIGHWAY (TOYOTA INDICATES 38 HIGHWAY/40 CITY). EITHER FUEL TANK IS DEFECTIVE/CAPACITY IS INACCURATE, GAUGES/COMPUTER/WARNINGS ARE DEFECTIVE, OR BOTH?
Owner-reported narrative. 350 miles reported. Look up ODI 11292178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11298061 · 2020-01-09 (January 9, 2020)
2020 RAV4 XLE HYBRID. FUEL GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY WHEN ONLY APPROXIMATELY 10 GALLONS OF THE 14.5 GALLON TANK HAVE BEEN USED. THIS LEADS TO GETTING FAR LESS RANGE FROM A TANK OF GAS THAN THE VEHICLE SHOULD OR IS ADVERTISED TO GET. WHEN YOU FILL THE TANK THE COMPUTER FIRST ESTIMATES OVER 500 MILE RANGE BUT THEN QUICKLY DROPS AND ACTUAL RANGE YOU GET IS MORE THAN 100 MILES LESS DUE TO THE FUEL TANK PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 350 miles reported. Look up ODI 11298061 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11306715 · 2020-02-03 (February 3, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKES 3-4 TIMES AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO PARKED VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE CRASH A WITNESS SAID THE BRAKES MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE DAUGHTER ALSO HEARD A NOISE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE DID CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CRASH OCCURRED FEB 3, 2020. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11306715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11309701 · 2020-02-17 (February 17, 2020)
I HAVE THE RAV4 LE BASE MODEL. IN THE FIRST 3 GEARS, TRANSMISSION JERKS A LOT DURING ACCELERATION, ALWAYS FEELING IT IS HAVING A HARD SHIFT. WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKE PADEL PARTIALLY OR ROLLING STOP, THE CAR LURCHES, THIS IS PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS WHEN I MAKE TURNS, I FEEL THE CAR IS NOT STABLE. VERY DISAPPOINTED AT TOYOTA.
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11309701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11319807 · 2020-03-31 (March 31, 2020)
I AM WRITING THIS LETTER REQUESTING YOUR ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING A CONTINUING PROBLEM I HAVE EXPERIENCED REGARDING MY RECENTLY PURCHASED 2020 TOYOTA RAV 4. IT SEEMS MY CAR CANNOT STAY IN THE DRIVING LANE, EVEN FOR A SHORT DISTANCE, WITHOUT MY HAVING TO CONSTANTLY ADJUST THE STEERING. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR FOUR TIMES TO AUTHORIZED TOYOTA REPAIR SHOPS, BUT EACH TIME THEY WERE UNABLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IN FACT, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR, AND THIS IS HOW A TOYOTA RAV PERFORMS. I ALSO HAD A TIRE ALIGNMENT, THINKING T…
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319807 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11319894 · 2020-03-31 (March 31, 2020)
TOYOTA TELLS ME THAT THE LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM (LDA) AND THE LANE TRACING SYSTEM (LTA) ARE INDEPENDENT BY DESIGN. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE ACCIDENTS. I HAVE ABOUT 4700 MILES ON MY CAR AND MANY MILES OF DRIVING WITH THE LDA & LTA ENGAGED. I HAD POSITIVE CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AT ALL TIMES IN THE INCIDENTS DESCRIBED BELOW. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE LTA CONSTANTLY MAKES CORRECTIONS TO THE RELATIVE POSITION OF THE CAR IN THE TRAFFIC LANE. IT REGULARLY TRIES TO STEER YOU OUT OF YOUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11385037 · 2020-12-26 (December 26, 2020)
WITHIN A WEEK FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE ,THE VEHICLE DID NOT START , HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER, DEALER SAYS THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY THE PROBLEM DID NOT DUPLICATE AT THEIR END. NO FAULT DETECTED. 9 MONTHS LATER WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD A MILEAGE OF 6066 AGAIN IT FAILED TO START, HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER, DEALER AGAIN STARTED THE VEHICLE NORMALLY NO FAULT WAS DETECTED, LATER WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD THE MILEAGE OF 7079 THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE IN QUE IN A GAS STATION. FLASHING NOTIFICATION IN THE DASH BOARD INDICATED "DIRT IN TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11385037 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11482590 · 2022-09-02 (September 2, 2022)
The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of power steering assist. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V373000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11482590 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11367034 · 2020-10-29 (October 29, 2020)
NEW 2020 RAV4 HYBRID MAKES LOUD GRINDING NOISE SOMETIMES WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE AND EV MODE IS ENGAGED. APPEARS TO BE FAILURE OF SPRAG-TYPE DEVICE TO DISENGAGE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION FROM ELECTRIC DRIVE SYSTEM. MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF FRANK TOYOTA SERVICE DECLARED IT TO BE NORMAL AND REFUSED TO MAKE ANY WRITTEN ENTRIES EVIDENCING THE COMPLAINT. THEY CLAIMED I WAS MISTAKEN WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT IT DID NOT BEGIN UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 600 MILES ON IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11367034 at NHTSA ↗