2017 Toyota RAV4 HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
9,425 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 14 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 21.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 7.1% |
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 | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Visibility/Wiper: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 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 (9). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2017: 6; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2021: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10946793 · 2017-01-20 (January 20, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET I HEARD A LARGE NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. I PULLED OVER TO LOOK AT THE CAR TO SEE IF IT HAD BEEN SHOT. I SAW NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 0-15 DEGREES F AT THE TIME. LATER WHILE LOOKING OUT MY SECOND STORY WINDOW I NOTICED A SPOT THAT APPEARED TO BE THAWED OUT ON THE ROOF OF MY CAR. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED THE SUNROOF HAD BEEN SHATTERED. THERE WAS A LARGE HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE SUNROOF. IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT MY INTERIOR SUNROOF SHADE WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME THE SUNROOF…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10946793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10972364 · 2017-04-14 (April 14, 2017)
I PURCHASED A 2017 RAV4 FROM BIG2TOYOTA IN CHANDLER AZ ON THE 23RD OF MARCH 2017.THERE WERE SEVERAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH SALES PERSON PHIL HARMON CONCERNING THE PURCHASE.I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS VEHICLE AND SAW A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT MOVEMENT OF THE HOOD WHEN DRIVING, SOME EVEN DESCRIBED AND FLOPPY HOOD. I ASKED, BY EMAIL, MR. HARMON IF HE KNEW ANYTHING OF THIS PROBLEM. HE REPLIED THAT HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT. I LIVE IN THE TUCSON AREA, ABOUT 100 MILES FROM WHERE I PURCHASED MY NEW CAR. WHILE DRIVING MY NEW CAR HOME I NOTICED THAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10972364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11023434 · 2017-09-14 (September 14, 2017)
OUR NAMES ARE [XXX] RESIDING AT [XXX] IN [XXX] .AS OF JULY 17 WE STARTED ENCOUNTERING VERY DANGEROUS AND ODD INTERMITTENT BEHAVIOR ON OUR 2017 RAV 4 HYBRID [XXX] WHICH WAS PURCHASED FROM TOYOTA OF LAKE CITY IN DECEMBER OF 2016. CURRENTLY, WE BELIEVE THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THIS UNREPAIRED SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND WE ARE NOT DRIVING IT. IN JULY MY WIFE FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS BEHAVIOR WHERE THE CAR WOULD DRIVE FORWARD WHILE IN REVERSE. SHE LATER EXPERIENCED IT AGAIN WITH OUR FRIEND LISE KAUFFMAN IN MID-AUGUST (8-10THISH) WHILE ON ORC…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11023434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11045914 · 2017-11-14 (November 14, 2017)
I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT IN MY CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (AT ZERO MPH). AS I WAS TRYING TO PUT IT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND JUMPED INTO THE HILLY WOODS. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN AND I WASN'T ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CAR CONTINUED GOING THROUGH THE HILL FULL OF LARGE TREES. FINALLY THE VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A TREE. I HAD A HARD TIME OPENING THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS WEDGED AGAINST SAID TREE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 11045914 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11051345 · 2017-11-29 (November 29, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING IN RADAR CRUISE MODE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP FULLY IF THE CAR IN FRONT DROPS BELOW 25 MPH. IT WILL BEEP ANS THEN ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO REAREND THE CAR IN FRONT.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11051832 · 2017-12-01 (December 1, 2017)
THE SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. NO OTHER CARS WERE AHEAD ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME AND THERE WERE NO OVERPASSES. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD OR OVERHEAD. SUNNY DAY, APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES. AFTER MARKET CROSSBARS HAD BEEN INSTALLED BY THE DEALER 6 DAYS PRIOR. UNABLE TO DETERMINE IF DEALER CAUSED DAMAGE; DEALER CLAIMS THEY DID NOT. CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN MINIMALLY SINCE CROSSBAR INSTALLATION. ROOF OF CAR DOES NOT SHOW ANY INDICATION OF DAMAGE.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,273 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11088492 · 2018-04-16 (April 16, 2018)
THE WIPERS DO NOT WORK IN COLD WEATHER, THE WIPERS ARE STUCK EVEN WITH A CLEAN WINDSHIELD
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088492 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11120657 · 2018-08-17 (August 17, 2018)
PURCHASED 02/13/17. MAR VA TO FL, SEAT HEATER ON, NOTICED HOT SMELL SEAT GOT EXTREMELY HOT, TURNED IT OFF, TAKES 10-15 MINS TO COOL DOWN WHILE IN SEAT. DAY 2 OF TRIP, HAPPENED AGAIN. STOPPED AT REST AREA, JEANS STUCK TO LEG, EXAM SHOWED RED POPPED BLISTER ON UPPER RIGHT LEG, EXTREMELY PAINFUL. APPLIED BURN CREAM AND BANDAID. DROVE TO FRIENDS, SITTING ON LEFT CHEEK. TOOK PICS, WENT TO URGENT CARE. DIAGNOSIS 2ND DEGREE BURN. 3/23 DEALER INSPECTED SEAT HEATER, STATED IT'S DESIGNED TO SHUT OFF AT 107 BUT WOULD PUT IN SYSTEM INCASE IT HAPPENED AGA…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,123 miles reported. Look up ODI 11120657 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V295000 · Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
Reported: 2017-05-02 (May 2, 2017)
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
Consequence: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.
NHTSA campaign record ↗