2015 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 304 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 37 involved a crash and 41 involved a fire. 30 people were injured and 1 person died.
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
37 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 3, 2020, fire
SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING WITH NO ISSUES, THE PARKED CAR STARTED TO SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. WITHIN SECONDS, A LARGE FIRE HAD STARTED WHICH COMPLETELY CONSUMED THE CAR AND ALSO SPREAD TO MY WIFE'S CAR AND THE HOUSE'S CARPORT. INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR INFORMED US THAT THE FIRE LIKELY STARTED IN/NEAR THE ENGINE TOWARDS THE DRIVERS SIDE BASED ON WHERE THE HOTTEST PARTS OF THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN. HOWEVER, NO CONCLUSIVE DETERMINATION WAS MADE REGARDING THE CAUSE. THE CAR WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND HAD NOT HAD ANY MAINTENANCE WORK PERFORMED ON IT RECENTLY. THERE WERE ALSO NO SIGNS OF INTRUSION BY RODENTS OR OTHER ANIMALS. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. I'VE ALSO SINCE LEARNED THIS HAD HAPPENED ONLY ONE MONTH BEFORE TO THE PARENTS OF ONE OF OUR CHILDRENS' FRIENDS. THEY ALSO HAD A RAV4, ALTHOUGH NOT THE SAME MODEL YEAR (I BELIEVE IT WAS A 2013). I HAVE ALSO SEEN MANY OTHER REPORTS WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE. IF THERE IS A DEFECT OR DESIGN FLAW CONTRIBUTING TO THESE FIRES, IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED QUICKLY!
Engine, Jan 20, 2020
TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER. ON A TRIP FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO CYPRESS, CA ON THE I-5 FREEWAY CRUISING AT 70 MPH A SUDDEN TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED AT LEAST 30 TIMES (THIS WITH ODOMETER IN 6,000 MILE RANGE). I HAD REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO MY TOYOTA DEALER AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 MILES. THEY SAID THEIR TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. AROUND 1/3/2020 I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND SAID I WOULD LEAVE IT THERE UNTIL THEY REPAIRED IT. I PURCHASED AN 8 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY IN OCT., 2014. AFTER. 4 DAYS DEALER CALLED FOR ME TO PICK IT UP. WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, THEIR COMPUTER READ MY CAR COMPUTER AND FOUND THAT WHILE RIGHT FOOT WAS ON GAS AND LEFT FOOT EITHER NEAR OR ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IT OCCURRED. SINCE MY LEFT FOOT WAS RESTING ON MAT WITHOUT ANY MOVEMENT WHY DIDN'T THE LOSS OF POWER HAPPEN CONSTANTLY! THEY SAID IT WAS A SAFETY FEATURE. I SAY IT IS A DANGER.. I HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN MAKING RIGHT OR LEFT TURNS & STARTING WHEN SIGNAL TURNS GREEN. ON LINE I HAVE SEEN SAME COMPLAINTS. ONE MECHANIC SUGGESTED IT COULD BE A MASS AIR FLOW CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. ANOTHER SAID IT COULD BE AIR FUEL RATIO SENSOR INTERMITTENTLY FAILING WHICH COULD TEST OK. NOTICE WE ONLY HAVE AROUND 6,000 MILES ON CAR WE BOUGHT IN OCT. 2014 BECAUSE PROBLEM CANNOT BE PREDICTED.
Engine, Sep 28, 2019
PINK COOLANT KEPT DISAPPEARING. HAVE TO REFILL ONCE EVERY 6 MONTHS. FILL TO FULL AND 6 MONTHS LATER COOLANT WILL BE AT LOW LEVEL. CAR ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. IT HAD HAPPENED SINCE DAY 1.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Oct 19, 2018, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE FORWARD, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE OF A PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO REV EVEN THOUGH THE CONTACT WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO MOVE BACKWARDS WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STILL DEPRESSED. THE PASSENGER WAS ABLE TO REACH THE GEAR SHIFT AND PLACE IT IN THE PARK POSITION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Oct 7, 2018, fire
CAR STALLED SO I PULLED OVER. THERE WAS SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. WITHIN MINUTES IT TURNED INTO A BIG FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO BE CALLED.
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Dec 7, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE KEY INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DCH FREEHOLD TOYOTA (4268 U.S. 9 S, FREEHOLD, NJ 07728), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND OPENED A CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000.
Engine, Aug 13, 2016
I HAVE BOUGHT RAV 4 AWD XLE 2015 IN JULY, 2015. IT STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS WITHIN 1 YEAR. I WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER 3 -4 TIMES TO FIX IT. HE EVEN REPLACED TRANSAXLE AND SOME BOLTS AND PUT SOME ENGINE OIL IN IT BUT AGAIN I GOT ALL THESE ENGINE LIGHTS ON MY CAR DISPLAY BOARD. EVERYTIME, NO. OF LIGHTS ARE INCREASING N THE DISPLAY BOARD. SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIX THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. SUDDENLY CAR BECAME SLUGGISH ON THE HIGHWAY, NOT PICKING UP THE SPEED. SO SCARED TO DRIVE A DEFECTIVE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. SPECIALLY WHEN PROBLEM IS IN YOUR CAR ENGINE.(ENGINE LIGHT ON, TRACK OFF ON, A/T OIL TEMP ON, AWD ON ,) WHAT ELSE LEFT IN THE CAR. REALLY FUSTERATED AND DANGEROUS. EVERYTIME NEW LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF.
Engine, May 6, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,896.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 3, 2016
THE LIGHT ON THE CRUISE CONTROL STALK BLINKS AND IT IS VERY DISTRACTING AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL STARTED DROPPING OUT WHILE DRIVING. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR CODES WERE STORED IN THE COMPUTER WHEN CHECKED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, BUT THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. THE ENGINE STARTED SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A TOTAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND WOULD TAKE SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART DUE TO NO ELECTRICAL POWER. THE DEALER THEN ADJUSTED THE SWITCH ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT DIDN'T HELP. THE RADIO/NAVIGATION SCREEN HAS SINCE LOCKED UP AND YOU HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR TO RESET IT. THE ENGINE WILL SOMETIMES SHUT OF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THE RESTART ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS STAY ON (ABS, AIRBAGS, TRACTION CONTROL & ALL WHEEL DRIVE). THE LIGHTS DO NOT RESET UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND BACK ON BY THE KEY. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN INVOLVED IN 3 ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE CAR IS NOW IN THE SHOP AFTER CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE CAR AND THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. IT IS AT A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE SELLING DEALERS INCOMPETENCE IN THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND MANAGEMENT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 5 MONTHS AND OVER A PERIOD OF 15,000 MILES AND I DO NOT BELIEVE IT CAN BE FIXED AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THE MANUFACTURER IS REALLY TRYING TO REPAIR THE CAR BECAUSE OF ALL THE STALLING THEY ARE CURRENTLY DOING AT THIS TIME. I NEED YOUR HELP.
Air bags, Structure, Engine, Mar 6, 2016, fire
THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN PHILADELPHIA AT A LOW SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE QUICKLY WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND DESTROYED MOST OF THE CAR, INCLUDING THE ENGINE, DASHBOARD, FRONT SEATS, WINDSHIELD, WINDOWS, FRONT TIRES WHICH EXPLODED, AND AIRBAGS.
Service brakes, Engine, Aug 17, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,010.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 11, 2015
DRIVING ON SLIGHT GRADE AT APPROX. 55 MPH. ATTEMPTED TO PASS CAR IN FRONT OF ME. CHECKED LEFT LANE, SEMI ABOUT 50-75 YARDS BACK. PRESSED DOWN GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL. MEANWHILE SEMI IS APPROACHING. PUMPED PEDAL A FEW TIMES NOTHING SEMI HAS TO SLOW DOWN BECAUSE I AM SLOWING DOWN INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING. FINALLY PEDAL CATCHES AND CAR ACCELERATES. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 5 TIMES SINCE I GOT THIS CAR NEW IN JANUARY, TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE PERSON SAYS THIS IS NORMAL AS EVERYTHING IS DONE BY COMPUTER NOW, NOT HARDWIRE. COMPUTERS ARE EXCEPTIONALLY FAST SO I DON'T BUY IT. HE DID ADMIT THAT ANOTHER RAV4 DRIVER HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME THING I DID. HE ADVISED ME TO HOLD THE PEDAL DOWN AND THE ACCELERATION WILL KICK IT. TRIED IT. DID NOT DO ANYTHING. VERY WORRIED. PLUS SEMI DRIVER MUST THINK I'M AN IDIOT.