2021 Toyota Rav4
The Verdict
The 2021 Toyota Rav4 has 368 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (142 complaints) and electrical (139 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 37/100, it earns a "Check Engine" rating. If you're shopping for a Toyota Rav4, consider the 2000 model year which has 89% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2000 has 89% fewer complaints
View the 2000 Toyota Rav4 dashboard →
Klunk Score: Check Engine
More complaints than most vehicles. Known issues exist — budget for potential repairs.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 6 |
| 2001 | 46 | 22 | 31 | 42 | 179 |
| 2002 | 60 | 12 | 56 | 69 | 358 |
| 2003 | 46 | 2 | 29 | 54 | 194 |
| 2004 | 41 | 7 | 53 | 30 | 22 |
| 2005 | 44 | 11 | 60 | 16 | 8 |
| 2006 | 377 | 29 | 86 | 165 | 46 |
| 2007 | 522 | 37 | 150 | 251 | 42 |
| 2008 | 272 | 27 | 79 | 170 | 26 |
| 2009 | 207 | 29 | 24 | 42 | 25 |
| 2010 | 250 | 30 | 40 | 48 | 32 |
| 2011 | 148 | 36 | 31 | 47 | 23 |
| 2012 | 142 | 36 | 41 | 31 | 15 |
| 2013 | 95 | 21 | 72 | 38 | 27 |
| 2014 | 65 | 12 | 67 | 34 | 16 |
| 2015 | 122 | 24 | 81 | 49 | 25 |
| 2016 | 72 | 42 | 79 | 28 | 10 |
| 2017 | 84 | 32 | 123 | 42 | 13 |
| 2018 | 107 | 25 | 128 | 40 | 18 |
| 2019 | 228 | 27 | 94 | 456 | 59 |
| 2020 | 178 | 15 | 131 | 276 | 23 |
| 2021 | 142 | 19 | 139 | 55 | 13 |
| 2022 | 63 | 6 | 27 | 31 | 5 |
| 2023 | 64 | 12 | 24 | 31 | 8 |
| 2024 | 81 | 13 | 26 | 38 | 3 |
| 2025 | 41 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 3 |
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Worst Problems
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See how the 2021 Toyota Rav4 stacks up against rivals.
Complaints
I have been unable to get my vehicle inspected and repaired by a dealer despite months of waiting and asking two different Toyota dealers to order the necessary part or parts. This recall has been in place for years. For several years I was told it was only being done in certain states and that New Mexico would be last on list due to climate. Probably six months ago the message changed from Toyota and it was now ok in every state. Only problem is still no parts according to dealer. Last contact was on June 2, 2026 with the second dealer to order part. No call back and no contact. First effort was in Santa Fe NM where car was purchased new in 2021at Toyota dealer. Last effort over a month ago was at Albuquerque Larry Miller Toyota. So safety recall for faulty air bag sensor on my wife's side of car has been in place about 900 days without parts to fix a potentially deadly problem. VERY DANGEROUS
What component or system failed, and is it available for inspection? The roof/water sealing system failed, allowing water to enter the vehicle interior. It is available for inspection upon request. How was safety put at risk? Water intrusion through the roof caused visible mold growth, interior deterioration, and a severe foul odor. The mold and contamination inside the vehicle is causing constant illness to the occupant, creating a serious ongoing health and safety hazard. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center? The vehicle was brought to a service center for inspection, however they refused to inspect it. The problem has not been formally confirmed. Has the vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance, or others? The vehicle was taken in for inspection but the dealer/service center declined to inspect it. No manufacturer, police, or insurance inspection has taken place. Were there warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to failure? When did they first appear? No warning lamps or messages appeared. The symptoms that developed include: Water entering through the roof Visible mold growth Interior deterioration Severe foul odor described as "rotten rat" smell Occupant experiencing constant illness due to exposure
The front driver-side door lock and opener (actuator) stopped working using the key fob and needs to be manually locked from the inside. When I try to access the door after manually locking driver side and using my key fob for the remaining 3 locks, the unit won't automatically open. This causes a safety risk considering I need to access the driver's side back or front passenger side to open the door. According to what I've read this is a known issue.
Passenger front door actuator\lock mechanism does not lock/unlock the door. There have been numerous lawsuits and yet NO RECALL for this very dangerous known problem. Please advise if there is any assistance from Toyota available to cure this defect that is well known to exist. I can be reached @ [XXX]. Thank you in advance for your assistance, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact was traveling at approximately 50 MPH directly behind a van in the same lane of traffic. The van suddenly made an emergency avoidance maneuver to bypass a stationary vehicle completely stopped in the lane. Despite the attempt, the van rear-ended the stopped vehicle. The contact immediately initiated an evasive maneuver to avoid the sudden collision occurring ahead. However, due to proximity and immediate lane obstruction, the contact was unable to avoid an impact and struck the vehicle. The severe front-end impact resulted in catastrophic damage to the contact's vehicle before it came to a complete stop. The airbags failed to deploy, and no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop. A police report was filed. The driver and her pet were the only occupants of the vehicle, and the contact was the only injured passenger. The contact sustained moderate chest pain, but no medical assistance was received. A police report was filed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
was driving on 4 lane hwy and it was raining and my wipers stopped working mid-way on windshield, I had to find a safe place to pull off road and inspect the problem i tried turning car off and back on and wipers would still not work. I drove another 3 miles or so to the Toyota dealership luckily with no accident which made me feel very unsafe without my wipers. They told me i would have to leave car for them to take panel off to find the cause of failure and provided a loaner after i refused an Uber.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 23V865000 (Airbags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was/was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was/was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was invalid./The VIN was not available.
Gear shift makes noise when moving it, as in you can actually hear the gears/electrical equipment moving and making noise when going from park to drive. The keyless entry when the fob is near, just doesn't work well from the drivers side... I can stand there trying to allow it to unlock and it just locks again or wont unlock the passenger door even if allowing it extra time to.
Water sloshing around inside the passenger door after rain or car wash. If you pull at the seal a little bit, water pours out. This has happened a few times now in the last year of owning the car. The rear seatbelt sensor also goes off randomly, when no one is sitting in the back seat.
Car makes a whining noise Toyota Pinellas park said it was normal but the transmission is jolting/slipping not accelerating vs the first test drive. Both cv axles were bad tires were bald when sold to me tps sensors were bad. Had to get a new set of tires and paid the Toyota for work on the vehicle
The car had to be resealed and had water damage. The car smelled like mildew when I purchased it. Water was getting in the car and they resealed it but it does not rectify that the car had water damage due to the leak in the seals
Upon taking my 2021 Rav4 Hybrid in for the rear traction motor cable corrosion recall (25TD01) on 5/7/2026, I was told there are no parts, no estimated arrival time, and therefore not even a rough estimate for a timeframe of repair. I was told that no one would inspect or evaluate the part in question to indicate if the car was safe to drive. I expressed my extreme concern given the recall includes risk of power failure, even while driving. I received inconsistent, avoidant answers and an absolute denial to remedy the situation in any way. I was told the dealership is "Dolan" and not "Toyota". I again expressed my concerns about safety and the dealerships' denial to, at minimum inspect the recalled part and/or housing of the part. Emily, the Service manager stated that Toyota does not "allow" loaner vehicles for this particular recall. She could not provide any sources for this information. To summarize; the dealer with not provide an inspection of the recalled part and/or housing, or give an estimated timeline for repair given I am #125 on a waitlist. There is a complete lack of regard for mine or my children's safety as the dealer will not provide any assessment of how bad the damage could be. They suggested that I continue to drive the vehicle, acknowledging all of the safety hazards that could occur. I am terrified of the possibility of having an accident with my kids in the car due to this recalled part failing, not having a vehicle to get to and from work, and the potential additional costs that this unaddressed recall issue could cause. Please advise!
“Required Engine Maintenance- Visit Your Dealer” message came on the dash. After doing some research and troubleshooting; it appeared to be the coolant bypass valve that everyone has had issues with. The problem was then confirmed with a local provider who instructed us to contact the dealer to see if they’d cover the repair. Otherwise the repair by them would be $700. Toyota customer service told us that there is no TSB or Recall for this issue. We would need to have the issue diagnosed and then pay out of pocket for the repair. This is an issue that spreads throughout so many vehicles that it needs to be a recall.
Transmission failed at 105,000 miles Quotes to replace $8000
The plastic gears that make the seat move back and forth have failed so I can’t adjust the drivers seat to a proper position. We have 2 drivers of almost a foot different in height. There is a plastic gears that runs against a metal gear. Seat is unusable.
Front seat can not be moved back and forth without grinding noise.
- The seat has cheap plastic parts that move the power seat forward and backward, and once malfunction you have to change either the whole seat or the drivers seat track adjuster assembly and both of them expensive. - The seat was built poorly which cause lower and upper back pain.
The coolant bypass valve failed and the car is a 2021 Rav 4 LE. I called Toyota and according to the VIN it is not covered for this type of repair. I see quite a few cars have had this same issue, all Toyota's. It was inspected and repaired at a local Toyota Dealership but I had to pay out of pocket for the repair. There was a brief warning light that said "Engine Maintenance Required" See dealership or some such thing. Of course it's a safety issue if the coolant valve bypass failure causes the car to overheat.
I have a 2021 TYTA RAV4 HYBRID XLE PREMIUM AWD, the driver seat is very slow moving forward and backwards twisting and preventing to fully go forward and backwards. I need to get out and in of my vehicle. So I have to move in back and forth to get out and move it forward to see over the dash board. I am concerned it makes a load noise. What if it fails to move. This is a critical danger to me the driver. I have passengers to consider. This is absolutely unsafe. This is allowed? Where is the recall? This is unlike Toyota to do nothing. I have platinum coverage purchased at time of purchase of this brand new vehicle on 12/31/2021. Apparently, it causes it other damage to other components and parts. There is alot of other components and parts under the front driver seat. I went it to have it looked at on March 30, 2026. Service advisor states: They ordered the parts its a seat frame sub assembly with motor. $1785.92 Covered by platinum Coverage, not all the parts are covered that are damaged. it will cost me: $448.87 for components and parts damaged but are not covered plus labor for Shield (71812-0R140-C0) and Holder (7181B-0R010) After further investigation it is a symptom of a failed internal component within this assembly—most commonly a stripped plastic gear or a bent drive shaft. So looking it up many Toyota Brand owners are experiencing the same thing and are having to replace other parts caused by this. This is a dangerous situation for me and others. What if it fails to move forward or reverse or motor stops? A partial repair is unacceptable. Leaving damaged trim and holders creates a risk of wire-chaffing and further mechanical stress on the new assembly. For the safety of the driver and the longevity of the vehicle, the repair must be 100% complete. This would be out of pocket monies families don't have. $2,234.79 total repair cost acts as a "safety tax" that prevents families from fixing this critical defect. I can not afford: $448.
Srs error appeared on the dash. Now the dealership is opening steering column to fix the electrical issue. The car has less than 29,000miles on it.
368 total