2014 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 197 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 19th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2014 reports, 20 involved a crash and 25 involved a fire. 22 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, 12v/24v/48v batteryNov 1, 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
Campaign 23V734000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemMar 13, 2015
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.
An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
Campaign 15V144000 on NHTSA.gov
Trailer hitchesJan 16, 2015
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
Campaign 15V011000 on NHTSA.gov
EquipmentDec 30, 2014
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed. The accessory attaching fasteners were not tightened with the proper torque, possibly causing the accessory to detach from the vehicle.
Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.
SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-14B.
Campaign 14V828000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
31 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 20, 2017, fire
RAV4 2014 CAUGHT A FIRE WHEN WAS DRIVEN. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SUDDENLY STUCK WHEN WAS DRIVEN ON THE LOCAL ROAD AT SPEED LESS THAN 40 MILES, SO PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER ON THE ROAD. SUDDENLY THE SMOKES CAME OUT UNDER THE HOOD, AND TURN TO FLAME. THE CAR BURNED ALL FRONT WINDSHIELD, ENGINE, BATTERY, AND HOOD. FIRE TRUCK COMES UP AND POLICEMAN HELP TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. IT WAS NO ACCIDENT, NO HIGH SPEED ON LOCAL ROAD, AND NO RAINNING DAY.
Engine, Sep 25, 2017
WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, AS I WAS COASTING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT, I INEXPLICABLY HEARD MY ENGINE RACE AT AN ALARMING PITCH AND ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY MY CAR ACCELERATED AT AN UNPRECEDENTED RATE. I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD AND MY VEHICLE CAME TO A SCREECHING STOP AFTER TRAVELING A FEW FEET.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 1, 2017, crash
I WAS SITTING IN HEAVY STOP & GO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. ALL THREE LANES WERE STOPPED. AND ALTERNATELY INCHING FORWARD DUE TO ACCIDENTS FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. MY VEHICLE - THE RAVE 4 SUDDENLYSURGED FORWARD AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I STOOD ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS POSSIBLE BUT COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE (RAV 4). ALL MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I HAD AN INFANT IN THE BACK SEAT IN A CAR SEAT. I WAS EXTREMELY IN SHOCK AND SHAKEN AND HAD TROUBLE GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND BACK IN TO GET THE BABY OUT. MY VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. I ALSO QUESTION WHY ALL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. TAKATA AIRBAGS
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Sep 11, 2016
RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING MY 2014 RAV4 NEAR DOWNTOWN TAMPA ON ADAMO DRIVE AND WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN, AND SUDDENLY I HEARD SOME KIND OF NOISE AND FELT LIKE MY VEHICLE WENT DEAD WITHOUT ANY ELECTRICAL POWER AND IT STARTED REVERSING ON IT'S OWN AND SPUN TO RIGHT. FORTUNATELY SINCE I WAS TAKING A TURN I WAS HARDY AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 10 MPH AND HENCE MY FRONT RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR & HEAD LIGHT ETC. GOT DAMAGED AND THERE WAS A VERY MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT FENDER ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BEHIND OUR RAV4. FOR THE SAME REASON NONE OF US - EITHER MYSELF, MY FRONT CO-PASSENGER OR THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BEHIND OUR RAV4 WERE PHYSICALLY HURT AND WERE VERY SAFE AFTER THIS INCIDENT. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE BEHIND OUR RAV4 INFORMED THAT HE HEARD A KIND OF STRANGE SOUND AND SAW OUR RAV4 REVERSING & TURNING RIGHT, AND HE MOVED AWAY INTO THE RIGHT LANE. THE POLICE OFFICER, WHO HAS COME ALSO INFORMED THAT SHE HAS COME ACROSS THIS KIND OF INCIDENTS WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES RECENTLY, AND DID NOT GIVE ME CITATION AFTER REVIEWING MY INCIDENT FREE DRIVING RECORD AND ALSO SHE COULD NOT FIND REASON FOR THIS FREAK INCIDENT WHICH LOOKS MORE LIKE A MECHANICAL DEFECT OF MY RAV4, AND ADVISED TO TAKE TO TOYOTA DEALER FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION & RESOLUTION. ON FURTHER RESEARCH WE FOUND THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS RECALL - "ELECTRICAL POWER ASSIST SYSTEM" (EPS) FOR 2014 RAV4 WHICH WAS IDENTIFIED & DOCUMENTED BY TOYOTA ON 03/13/2015 BUT WAS NOT NOTIFIED TO THE CUSTOMERS. WE HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA COMPANY, COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS INCIDENT, INFORMED THE RECALL AND WE ARE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM TOYOTA AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, COMPUTER DATA ANALYSIS FROM OUR RAV4. I AM HEREWITH ATTACHING THE DOCUMENTATION FOR THE RECALL. I AM VERY MUCH WORRIED & CONCERNED ABOUT THIS INCIDENT, SINCE IT IS OF VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE REVIEW AND REPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *TR
Steering, Power train, Engine, Nov 25, 2015
WHILE MAKING A TURN UNDER 10 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH THE FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES WITH 2 TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT AFTER. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ONLY A QUICK REACTION ONTO THE BRAKE PEDAL STOPPED THE CAR FROM HITTING SOMETHING. 2 OF THE TIMES THE VEHICLE WAS TURNING UP A SLIGHT HILL. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED SINCE TOYOTA CAN'T FIND AN ISSUE, A UN-EXPERIENCED DRIVER MAY NOT REACT FAST ENOUGH TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT.
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Sep 2, 2014
WHILE DRIVING MY BRAND NEW TOYOTA 2014 RAV4, THEY WERE THE FOLLOWING: 1. THE CAR WAS VIBRATING SLIGHTLY AND THE CAR WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. 2. THE ?CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE AWD DRIVE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS. 3. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BECOMING FIRM ALONG WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. REMEMBER, THIS WAS ALL WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING. 4. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND TURN OFF THE CAR. 5. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND WOULD ONLY USE THE BATTERY. 6. I TRIED TO START THE CAR FOR THE THIRD TIME, BUT STOPPED WHEN I COULD SMELL BURNING RUBBER. I WAS VERY NERVOUS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. MOREOVER, I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE, TRUST, AND A SENSE OF SAFETY IN THIS VEHICLE. BASICALLY, I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE AND SECURE IN THIS CAR. MY EXPERIENCE YESTERDAY 09/01/2014 WAS TERRIFYING, I WAS AFRAID THAT SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO HIT ME FROM BEHIND. WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUT DOWN I WAS SCARED FOR MY FRIENDS LIFE AND MINE. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO STOP THE CAR AS MUCH AS I COULD TO THE SIDE SAFELY AND PUT ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, AND CALL FOR HELP. THERE WAS NO SHOULDER I HAD TO STOP ON A BUSY ROAD, WHERE CARS DRIVE OVER THE SPEED LIMIT. WHEN I WAS BUYING THE VEHICLE THEY WERE MY BEST BUDDY OFFERING YOU WATER, PIZZA, AFTER THE DEAL SHAKING HANDS 20 TIMES, WHEN YOU GO BACK ITS LIKE WE ARE VERY BUSY. TOYOTA CARE WILL TAKE CARE OF IT, DON'T REALLY WANT TO KNOW YOU! AT THE MOMENT IT IS AT THE DEALERSHIP BEING CHECKED! LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS. *TR