Toyota

RAV4

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · model years 1996 to 2026

Includes RAV4, RAV4 2WD, RAV4 4WD and 9 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 135 RAV4 trims All Toyota cars

The verdict

Best year: 2026. complaints: 36, below this model's typical 464; recalls: 1, below this model's typical 4.

Worst year: 2006. complaints: 705, about 2.3x this model's typical 309; recalls: 11, about 2.8x this model's typical 4.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Toyota RAV4
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1996	4Gas	22	no data	$2,825	0	47	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 22%, POWER TRAIN 18%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 10%
complaints: 47, below this model's typical 309 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 83 of 100, where higher is better.
1997	4Gas	22	no data	$2,825	0	54	0	no data	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 17%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12%, STRUCTURE 10%
complaints: 54, below this model's typical 309 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 81 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	4Gas	22	no data	$2,825	4	77	0	no data	AIR BAGS 15%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 15%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14%
complaints: 77, below this model's typical 309 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 Score: 71 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	4Gas	22	no data	$2,825	4	62	0	no data	AIR BAGS 19%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 19%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 62, below this model's typical 309 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 14 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	4Gas	22	no data	$2,825	3	30	0	no data	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 21%, POWER TRAIN 15%, TIRES 9%
complaints: 30, below this model's typical 309 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 Score: 53 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	4Gas	22.5	no data	$2,775	0	309	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 47%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 7%
complaints: 309, in line with this model's typical 309 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 50 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	4Gas	22.5	no data	$2,775	0	527	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 56%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 6%
complaints: 527, about 1.7x this model's typical 309 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 48 complaints reporting a fire: 15 Score: 43 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	4Gas	22.5	no data	$2,775	0	315	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 54%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 7%
complaints: 315, above this model's typical 309 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 65 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	4Gas	22.5	no data	$2,775	2	154	0	no data	AIR BAGS 26%, POWER TRAIN 13%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 11%
complaints: 154, below this model's typical 309 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 15 complaints reporting a fire: 4 NHTSA advised parking the 2004 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 43 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	4Gas	22.5	no data	$2,775	5	141	0	no data	AIR BAGS 35%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 7%
complaints: 141, below this model's typical 309 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 complaints reporting a fire: 2 NHTSA advised parking the 2005 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 33 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	4Gas	22	no data	$2,850	11	705	0	no data	STEERING 26%, ENGINE 13%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9%
complaints: 705, about 2.3x this model's typical 309 recalls: 11, about 2.8x this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 10 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	4Gas	22	no data	$2,850	14	1,004	0	no data	STEERING 22%, ENGINE 16%, SUSPENSION 10%
complaints: 1004, about 3.3x this model's typical 309 recalls: 14, about 3.5x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 41 complaints reporting a fire: 37 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	4Gas	22	no data	$2,850	14	575	0	no data	ENGINE 20%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 13%, SUSPENSION 12%
complaints: 575, about 1.9x this model's typical 309 recalls: 14, about 3.5x this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 32 complaints reporting a fire: 16 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	4Gas	23	no data	$2,725	15	327	0	no data	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 25%, SUSPENSION 14%, POWER TRAIN 7%
complaints: 327, above this model's typical 309 recalls: 15, about 3.8x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 23 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	4Gas	23	180	$2,725	14	400	1	219	SUSPENSION 20%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 17%, POWER TRAIN 8%
complaints: 400, above this model's typical 309 recalls: 14, about 3.5x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 27 complaints reporting a fire: 3 Score: 16 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.5 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	4Gas	22.5	180	$2,775	11	287	1	201	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 17%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 12%, SERVICE BRAKES 11%
complaints: 287, below this model's typical 309 recalls: 11, about 2.8x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 20 complaints reporting a fire: 8 Score: 26 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.6 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	4Gas	22.5	225	$2,775	6	266	1	291	VISIBILITY/WIPER 15%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14%, SERVICE BRAKES 9%
complaints: 266, below this model's typical 309 recalls: 6, about 1.5x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 23 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 47 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	2Gas	25.5	176	$2,450	5	262	2	324	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%, POWER TRAIN 9%
complaints: 262, about 1.7x this model's typical 155 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 15 complaints reporting a fire: 29 Score: 12 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.3 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	2Gas	25.5	176	$2,450	7	207	2	291	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 24%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%, ENGINE 11%
complaints: 207, above this model's typical 155 recalls: 7, about 1.8x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 22 complaints reporting a fire: 25 Score: 28 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.4 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	2Gas	25.5	176	$2,450	4	305	1	207	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, STEERING 12%
complaints: 305, about 2x this model's typical 155 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 30 complaints reporting a fire: 41 Score: 7 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	3Gas, Hybrid	25	176	$2,500	3	257	1	183	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 19%, SERVICE BRAKES 15%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 257, above this model's typical 232 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 27 complaints reporting a fire: 12 Score: 54 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	3Gas, Hybrid	25	176	$2,500	3	321	2	176	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 25%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, SERVICE BRAKES 9%
complaints: 321, above this model's typical 232 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 30 complaints reporting a fire: 24 Score: 15 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	3Gas, Hybrid	25	176	$2,500	3	347	2	133	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 28%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%, ENGINE 7%
complaints: 347, about 1.5x this model's typical 232 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 19 complaints reporting a fire: 32 Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	4Gas, Hybrid	30	203	$2,100	8	901	1	255	FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 22%, ENGINE 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%
complaints: 901, about 2.9x this model's typical 309 recalls: 8, about 2x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 23 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	7Gas, Hybrid	30	203	$2,100	6	648	1	252	ENGINE 22%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%
complaints: 648, above this model's typical 541 recalls: 6, about 1.5x this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 14 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 39 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	6Gas, Hybrid	29.5	203	$2,125	1	409	1	191	AIR BAGS 26%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 409, below this model's typical 464 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 49 complaints reporting a fire: 7 Score: 65 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	7Gas, Hybrid	30	203	$2,100	2	153	1	140	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%, ENGINE 12%
complaints: 153, below this model's typical 541 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 Score: 46 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	8Gas, Hybrid	30	203	$2,100	3	165	0	83	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, STEERING 10%
complaints: 165, below this model's typical 618 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 15 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 69 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	7Gas, Hybrid	30	203	$2,100	4	177	0	66	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, ENGINE 14%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%
complaints: 177, below this model's typical 541 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 21 Score: 70 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	7Gas, Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid	30	203	$2,250	4	103	0	36	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%, ENGINE 9%
complaints: 103, below this model's typical 541 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 10 Score: 72 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	6Hybrid	41	no data	$1,650	1	36	0	no data	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12%, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 12%
complaints: 36, below this model's typical 464 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1996: 22 to 2026: 41

Owner complaints1996: 47 to 2026: 36

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Toyota RAV4 to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.