4th generation (XA40) · XA40 · 2,158 complaints, 1,191 with mileage
Owners filed 2,158 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013–2018 Toyota Rav4, and 1,191 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
40% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are the electrical system (24.3% of complaints, typically around 39,500 miles), problems owners could not categorise (14.3% of complaints, typically around 25,500 miles), the engine (8.6% of complaints, typically around 37,000 miles).
9 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 525 | 24.3% | 39,500 | 7,000–77,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 309 | 14.3% | 25,500 | 5,700–50,109 |
| Engine | 185 | 8.6% | 37,000 | 8,600–70,000 |
| Service Brakes | 173 | 8.0% | 15,250 | 4,500–36,000 |
| Power Train | 127 | 5.9% | 35,000 | 9,000–78,000 |
| Structure | 123 | 5.7% | 17,450 | 2,400–55,000 |
| Steering | 109 | 5.1% | 26,000 | 4,712–91,000 |
| Exterior Lighting | 101 | 4.7% | 7,435 | 1,000–30,000 |
| Air Bags | 95 | 4.4% | 20,000 | 6,000–40,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 89 | 4.1% | 10,744 | 3,025–26,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 332 | 214 |
| 2014 | 278 | 147 |
| 2015 | 399 | 235 |
| 2016 | 293 | 185 |
| 2017 | 413 | 216 |
| 2018 | 443 | 194 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 21,210 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 24.3% of complaints (525 reports, 226 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 39,500 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,000 and 77,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 14.3% of complaints (309 reports, 142 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 25,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,700 and 50,109 miles.
The engine accounts for 8.6% of complaints (185 reports, 97 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 37,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 8,600 and 70,000 miles.
The brakes account for 8.0% of complaints (173 reports, 122 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 15,250 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 4,500 and 36,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 5.9% of complaints (127 reports, 69 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 35,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 9,000 and 78,000 miles.
Body structure accounts for 5.7% of complaints (123 reports, 75 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 17,450 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 2,400 and 55,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2018 model year drew the most — 443 complaints — while 2014 drew the fewest at 278. The median year sits at 365.
NHTSA records 9 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around equipment (4), the electrical system (1), the tyres (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 2,158 complaints filed against this generation, 274 reported a crash; 248 reported a fire; 210 reported an injury; 6 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 12.7% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 40% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
On inspection, the electrical system and problems owners could not categorise are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Problems owners could not categorise in particular shows a median failure mileage of 25,500, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Denso low-pressure fuel pump impeller cracking causing stalling; the recall population extends into MY2018-2019 RAV4s.
No dominant systemic mechanical defect — this generation is the reliability high-water mark of the nameplate; complaint volume is concentrated in infotainment, HVAC and paint rather than powertrain.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 23V734000 | 2024-12-27 | Electrical System:12V/24V/48V Battery |
| 19V503000 | 2019-08-23 | Equipment:Other:Labels |
| 17V831000 | 2018-01-23 | Equipment:Other:Labels |
| 17V295000 | 2017-06-15 | Tires:Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire |
| 16V236000 | 2016-06-03 | Equipment:Other:Labels |
| 16V198000 | 2016-05-04 | Electronic Stability Control (Esc) |
| 15V144000 | 2015-05-07 | Steering:Electric Power Assist System |
| 15V011000 | 2015-03-17 | Trailer Hitches |
| 14V828000 | 2015-02-23 | Equipment |