2025 Toyota RAV4 PLUG-IN HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
37,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2025 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 10 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 30.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 10.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 10.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 |
Unknown Or Other: 4; Service Brakes: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Power Train: 1; Tires: 1; Visibility/Wiper: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2025: 5; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 11645231 · 2025-02-27 (February 27, 2025)
I was driving on the highway and heard a very loud crash/explosion noise. Glass fell all over the inside of the car, the panoramic sunroof exploded. I believe this is the spontaneous explosion issue that has been reported in other rav4s, as there was no known road hazard seen or found, no overpass where anything fell, and there is no clear impact point on the broken glass, no other body damage anywhere else.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11645231 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11670737 · 2025-07-02 (July 2, 2025)
The contact owns a 2025 Toyota RAV4 equipped with Dunlop Tires, Tire Line: Grand Trek PT20, Tire Size: 225/60/R18, DOT Number: (N/A). The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the contact stated that there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the rear driver’s side tire. Upon inspecting the vehicle the following morning, the contact became aware that the tire was flat. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the tire was taken to a tire repair shop, and it was determine…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11670737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11694646 · 2025-10-21 (October 21, 2025)
With the car stopped & the transmission in the Drive or Reverse position with foot off the brake pedal: 1. Pushing the Power button once to turn the car off results in the transmission automatically shifting from Drive or Reverse to Neutral without automatically setting the Parking Brake. 2. If the car's front-end is on a slope pointed up-slope the car will freely roll backwards. If the car's front-end is pointed down slope the car will freely roll forward. The above sequence …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11694646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11696474 · 2025-10-29 (October 29, 2025)
The multifunction display does not automatically dim at night as indicated in the manual and in the settings. The display stays at the level manually set. This means that it can be so bright at night that the driver is blinded to the road ahead which could lead to an accident. It is very difficult and unsafe to try to dim it manually while driving.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11696474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11703428 · 2025-12-06 (December 6, 2025)
The headlights on my RAV4 do not shine far enough in front of the vehicle and have a straight line cut off at top of beam. While driving in rural areas of the California foothills this issue is dangerous. As you go up and down and wind around rural roads you cannot see far enough ahead to see what might be lurking in the dark. We've had this car Since August 2nd 2025, 3500 miles to date and don't believe it is safe to drive at night on winding roads. The lack of visibility in front of you gives you the desire to slow way down below safe speed …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11703428 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11714873 · 2026-02-01 (February 1, 2026)
After purchasing a new vehicle, I have become aware of a persistent and widely reported problem with the Toyota/Lexus battery maintenance/charging logic for the 12V batteries in their HEV and PHEV vehicles. This results in chronic under-charging of the 12v battery due to low charging voltage even during normal use and produces a failed 12v battery within 6-24 months. The problems are so widely known and investigated by owners that there is now a complete white paper on the subject: [XXX] Toyota/Lexus needs to respond to this and provide…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11714873 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11723408 · 2026-03-10 (March 10, 2026)
Glass moonroof /sunroof on top of 2025 Rav4 sudden shattered under normal driving conditions on freeway. The noise sounded like a gunshot and could have caused distraction / an accident. No evidence of impact from outside. No overpass that a rock could have come from. The dealer has not confirmed the issue, but it looks like there may be lawsuits underway for other model years. Car is currently with dealer. No warnings or messages ... it just suddenly happened while driving
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11723408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11745275 · 2026-06-19 (June 19, 2026)
After starting the RAV4, the Apple CarPlay quits unexpectedly both while stopped and while driving. Once it quits, the only way to reactivate Apple CarPlay is to stop the car, shut the engine off, then restart. This is extremely dangerous especially while using the map for guidance and it suddenly quits. The issue was reported several times to the local Toyota dealer, but they could not replicate the problem, even after leaving the car at the dealer overnight. The issue is not infrequent, and occurs almost every time the car is driven.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11745275 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
25V595000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
Reported: 2025-09-11 (September 11, 2025)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner vehicles. Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights.
Consequence: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Additional letters will be sent, anticipated in May 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB08 and 25TA08. Lexus' numbers for this recall are 25LB05 and 25LA05.
NHTSA campaign record ↗25V744000 · Back Over Prevention:Display Function
Reported: 2025-10-30 (October 30, 2025)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.
NHTSA campaign record ↗