2017 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 307 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 33 involved a crash and 24 involved a fire. 28 people were injured and 2 people 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
Equipment, other, labelsJun 28, 2019
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
Campaign 19V503000 on NHTSA.gov
Tires, temporary/emergency spare tireMay 2, 2017
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.
Campaign 17V295000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: exterior lighting
32 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Nov 5, 2017
OUTPUT FROM THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS IS TERRIBLE. LOW BEAMS ARE SO DIM THAT IT'S OFTEN TIMES HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT, MAKING IT HARD TO SEE PEDESTRIANS AND ANIMALS. THIS IS UNSAFE I BELIEVE. TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE BULBS JUST LIKE GMC DID HTTP://WWW.GMCPROBLEMS.COM/TRENDS/TERRIBLE-HEADLIGHTS/ IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE LATERALLY AT NIGHT WITH JUST THE LOW BEAMS ON.
Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, Oct 21, 2017
ROAD VISIBILITY AT NIGHT USING LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. WHEN LOW BEAMS ARE USED AT NIGHT THERE IS A DEFINE DARK PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD ABOUT CENTER (HORIZONALLY) THE AREA BELOW THE LINE IS LIT BUT THE AREA ABOVE IS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE DISTANCE YOU CAN SEE IS LESS THAN 300 FT AND REDUCES DOWN TO 50 75 FT WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. EVERY THING ABOVE THE LIT LINE IS COMPLETELY BLACK. THE LIGHTING SYSTEM IS HALOGEN AND IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT USING THE HIGH BEAMS..DEALERS HAVE REFUSED TO ADDRESS PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS.
Exterior lighting, Sep 25, 2017
THIS WINDSHIELD IS CALLED THE WINDSHIELD OF DEATH ONLINE!THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE ARC ONLY LIGHT UP PART OF THE WINDSHIELD. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE REFLECTION, THE TOP HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD IS BLACK. IT IS ALARNMING. THE NIGHTS WERE RAISED A SLIGHT AMOUNT BY THE DEALER BUT VISIBILITY IS STILL NOT UP TO PAR-- GOING AROUND CORNERS IS DANGEROUS. IT SEEMS TAT THE HALOGEN BULBS DO NOT GIVE ENOUGH LIGHT.
Exterior lighting, Aug 22, 2017
WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4 LE. THE FIRST TIME WE DROVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT WE WERE SHOCKED THAT, WHEN USING LOW OR HIGH BEAMS, A DARK AREA APPEARED ACROSS THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD OBSTRUCTING OUR VISION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AND FEEL SAFE. WHEN YOU GO UP AND DOWN SMALL HILLS, THE DARKNESS MOVES UP AND DOWN AS WELL, AND IS VERY ANNOYING. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THIS WAS THE WAY THE CAR WAS MADE. THEY WOULD DO NOTHING AND,IN FACT, TOLD US THAT THEY DIDN'T OWN THE CAR ANYMORE AND THAT WE SHOULD COMPLAIN TO TOYOTA; THAT IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAINED PERHAPS THEY WOULD HAVE A RECALL. FRANKLY, WE ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT.
Exterior lighting, Jun 20, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHTING TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD. IN ADDITION, THE AUTO HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE INTERMITTENT IN ILLUMINATING THE ROAD AHEAD. HOSELTON TOYOTA OF EAST ROCHESTER, NEW YORK WAS CONTACTED ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ON THE FIRST OCCASION, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO GET USED TO THE WAY THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATED. THE DEALER'S REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER AND TECHNICIAN WERE CONTACTED A SECOND TIME AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ADJUSTED SLIGHTLY. HOSELTON TOYOTA WARNED THAT ANY MORE ADJUSTMENTS WOULD BLIND ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
Exterior lighting, Mar 31, 2017
THE DASH LIGHTING DURING CERTAIN DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS IS UNREADABLE, OR REQUIRES EXCESSIVE STARING TO DETERMINE QUANTITIES SUCH AS VEHICLE SPEED, FUEL AMOUNT, AND OTHER QUANTITIES ON THE MULTI FUNCTION INFORMATION DISPLAY (MFID). WHETHER IT IS UNREADABLE DEPENDS ON THE ANGLE OF THE SUN RELATIVE TO THE VEHICLE.THE INABILITY TO QUICKLY SEE WHAT IS INADEQUATELY DISPLAYED FORCES THE DRIVER TO EITHER GUESS THE SPEED OR TO STARE TOO LONG IN AN ATTEMPT TO ASCERTAIN THE SPEED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. (I BELIEVE IT AFFECTS OTHER TOYOTA MODELS AS WELL AS MY RAV4 EV). *JS *JS
Exterior lighting, Jan 10, 2017
HALOGEN PROJECTION HEADLIGHTS ARE UNSAFE. THEY DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE SIDES AND UPPER PART OF THE ROAD AND CAUSE A MOVING LINE IN THE CENTER OF YOUR FIELD OF VISION WHERE THERE IS DARKNESS ABOUT THE LINE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE CLEARLY AT NIGHT USING THE LOW BEAMS. ON A DOWNHILL, THE AREA OF ILLUMINATION IS CUT OFF AND UNSAFE - HAVE TO USE HIGH BEAMS IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROAD. THIS LINE ALSO BOUNCES AROUND WITH THE BUMPS ON THE ROAD AND CAUSES ME TO GET NAUSEOUS WHEN DRIVING WITH LOW BEAMS AT NIGHT. THIS WAS NOT A ONE TIME INCIDENT: THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR. *TR