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: structure
19 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Air bags, Structure, Aug 6, 2026
This vehicle has twice had the same issue where the sunroof drain lines become clogged or dislocated and the water fills the liner in the front driver and passenger seats resulting in flooding in the compartment and mold damage throughout the interior. the mole spore are transmitted throughout the interior. The water damaged the airbags and the electrical harness in the dash of the car resulting in the dashboard electrical system shutting off and restarting spontaneously while driving. The leaks were repairs and the interior replaces in october 2023 and the same incident has recurred in august 2026. The claims adjuster recommends that the entire wiring harness, airbags, and carpets, seats and liners be replaced for health and safety of passengers.
Structure, Latches/locks/linkages, Jun 19, 2026
The liftgate on my 2017 Toyota RAV4 has been having issues for a couple of months. Makes a horrific noise when opening and closing. On several occasions it won't even open but about 5 inches then stops. The driver's side door won't lock/unlock with the smart key fob. I have to manually lock it and then use the "key" in the fob to unlock it. It is very hard to turn the key and I am always afraid it is going to break off in the lock. I feel this is dangerous for me that the time it takes to do this, something could happen to me. I have checked a couple of places for repair of the lock and it can run between $600 and $800 per lock.
Structure, Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 26, 2026, fire
Yesterday March 25th 2026 I went to work and parked my 2017 Toyota RAV4 and about 30minutes later it was on fire in the parking lot. The fire happened around the battery area
Suspension, Structure, Forward collision avoidance, Dec 13, 2023, crash
I have a 2017 RAV4 Hybrid XLE that I bought brand New. I have done all schedule maintenance on it. I was driving to an appointment on 15 November 2023 and the vehicle all the sudden jerked violently side to side throwing me off the road. I brought the car to the shop thinking an alignment or something. My whole rear subframe was cracked, and by the driver side rear wheel bolt it was broke straight through where the tow bar connects to the subframe. The mechanic said it was from rust from living in the Northeast, and the salt from the road during winter months. The Mechanic said Even though I took care of the vehicle this was going to happen anyways due to the subframe suspension parts that Toyota puts in the RAV4. Being flung into a ditch coming off a highway is a dangerous situation, and could of cost me my life because Toyota wants to save money and put in parts knowing that the rust problem will and could occur. I did my research, and found out this has been going on since 2007 and there have been recalls on models all the way up to 2012. If this is a known thing then why is Toyota being allowed to still make a weak subframe. Does someone have to die for this to be stoped. I’m am asking for a recall on all models of 2017 Rav4 hybrids and on to fix this problem. I am lucky to escape with minor injures, but maybe the next person isn’t. Something has to be done.
Structure, Nov 27, 2023
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that condensation was present inside the vehicle causing the carpet to become moist and damp. The contact stated that the front and rear carpets on the driver's and passenger's sides of the vehicle were moldy. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was contacted, and a service appointment was scheduled. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
Electrical system, Structure, Other or unspecified, Sep 25, 2023, fire
The car was sitting in the driveway and caught fire around 11:29am. The car had not been driven or moved from the driveway for at least 2 days, and is up to date on all maintenance. The fire inspectors hypothesize the fire began from the battery and spread. After Googling, I have learned that Toyota Rav 4s from 2013 to 2018 had a large recall; 1.8 million vehicles taken because of the battery catching fire randomly. The remains of the vehicle are in the driveway of the residence. Both the police and fire department came to the scene. The safety of others was put at risk because it is only luck that nobody was in the car, or going to drive the vehicle as it caught fire randomly, bringing the residents of the home and owner of the car in extreme risk from both the fire and any explosions, damage to the house, and damage to others.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, May 20, 2022, fire
On Saturday, May 14, 2022, my vehicle burned. and has since been totaled. The car had been trouble-free since I bought it in 2018. I was so pleased with it that I had just paid off the balance on the loan the week before because I wanted to keep it for 10 years. Prior to it burning, I had just driven it a couple miles for the first time in 2 weeks (it had been parked in a friend's garage). There were no warning lights visible during that time. I got out of the car for 3 minutes and was about to get back in when I noticed white smoke coming out of the hood. Within 30 seconds the hood had become engulfed in flames. The entire front and interior of the car was destroyed in the blaze, which the Fire Department had to extinguish. No one was injured, but two cars on either side were damaged by the fire. The car had last been serviced by Headquarter Toyota in Miami on January 22, 2022. They had not done the government-recommended inspection of the engine area during the servicing.
Electrical system, Structure, Oct 18, 2021
The door does not lock/unlock when you press the button to unlock doors.The individual lock on inside needs to be manually pressed to lock and unlock. My Passenger side went about two years ago. And now the lever on my driver side is not working.
Structure, Oct 6, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE TRUNK, THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON THE PART. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Structure, May 22, 2020
WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD FORCING ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS CAR, THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES FORTUNATELY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ONLY TWICE, 9/4/2018 AND 11/2 2019. IN BOTH CASES THIS OCCURRED ON A CITY STREET. I BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF THIS IS BECAUSE THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER . IF I DON'T APPLY THE BRAKES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, I WILL HIT THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. I HAVE A NORMAL SIZE FOOT - SIZE 10 SHOE. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CAR I DO NOT ALLOW MY WIFE OR GROWN CHILDREN TO DRIVE IT. THE CAR IS LEASED AND EXPIRES SEPT 1ST OF THIS YEAR. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET RID OF IT *TR
Electrical system, Air bags, Structure, Apr 17, 2020, crash
2017 RAV 4 STRUCK A CONCRETE LIGHT POST IN PARKING LOT. CAR WAS MOVING FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, IMPACTED DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND FENDER. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO COLLISION ALARM SOUNDED. ENTIRE FRONT PANEL DESTROYED, MAJOR ELECTRICAL SENSOR DAMAGE, DRIVER'S DOOR UNABLE TO OPEN. HOOD DAMAGED. SUSPENSION BENT. DRIVER SUFFERED MAJOR BRUISING AND CHEST PAIN. BOTH ELBOWS IMPACTED SOMETHING IN COLLISION. *TR
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Feb 18, 2020, crash
I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IN A LEFT HAND TURN LANE. A VEHICLE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ACCIDENTALLY DROVE HEAD FIRST INTO MY CAR. MY PASSENGER AND I HAD SEAT BELTS ON. THE APPROXIMATE SPEED OF THE OTHER CAR WAS GREATER THAN 10 MILES PER HOUR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DESPITE CONSIDERABLE FRONT END DAMAGE. A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD SAYS "SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. VISIT YOUR DEALER". I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. I HAVE READ THAT IF A VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND THE SEAT BELTS ARE ON IT MAY NOT ACTIVATE. THAT IS OK - JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IS THE INTENT.
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Sep 29, 2018, crash
I WAS IN A CRASH, SIDE IMPACT, PRETTY BAD. INJURED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT MY HEAD AND SHOULDER AGAINST THE SIDE ON THE INTERIOR OF MY VEHICLE. TRAVELING ON FREEWAY 50-60MPH, HEARD SCREECHING BEHIND DRIVERS SIDE OF ME... HEARD CRASH THEN I WAS IMPACTED ON DRIVERSIDE AND EVENTUALLY REAR PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO BE AIRBORNE AND LAND UPRIGHT. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED!
Structure, Aug 20, 2018
FROM THE IIHS WEBSITE: "THE TOYOTA RAV4 WAS REDESIGNED FOR THE 2013 MODEL YEAR. ALTHOUGH TOYOTA REINFORCED THE STRUCTURE IN LATER MODEL YEARS ON THE DRIVER SIDE TO IMPROVE OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN SMALL OVERLAP FRONTAL CRASHES, NO SUCH CHANGES WERE MADE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE." FOR THE 2013 REDESIGN, TOYOTA KNEW ENOUGH TO CORRECT THE STRUCTURE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO REMEDY THE IIHS'S RATING OF POOR; HOWEVER, THIS CORRECTION WAS NOT MADE BILATERALLY AND THE PASSENGER SIDE IS STILL COMPROMISED. AT THE TIME I PURCHASED THE RAV4, THE PASSENGER SIDE SMALL FRONT OVERLAP TEST WAS NOT BEING CONDUCTED BY IIHS, AND IT WAS NOT DISCLOSED THAT THE CHANGE WAS MADE ONLY TO THE DRIVER SIDE. THE SALES GM AT THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED ME THAT MY CAR IS STILL SAFE AND REMAINS AN IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK. I OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA AND RECEIVED A CALL FROM A CASE MANAGER WHO SAID THE CAR MEETS FEDERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES AND HAS A FIVE-STAR SAFETY RATING WITH NHTSA. HE CALLED THE SMALL OVERLAP FRONT CRASH TEST SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF "OVERLY AGGRESSIVE" AND "VERY SPECIALIZED." HE STATED THAT BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A "CHRONIC PRODUCT DEFECT" TO MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE AND THAT MY "COMPLAINT IS WITH THE PRODUCT DESIGN" THAT THERE IS "NOTHING FOR TOYOTA TO DO." IF THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF CRASH TEST WERE SO SPECIALIZED AND UNIMPORTANT TO TOYOTA, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE DRIVER SIDE, WHICH AT THE TIME WAS THE ONLY SIDE BEING TESTED. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA FOR FAILING TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT BILATERALLY, IN MY OPINION, PUT ME IN A POSITION WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR UNDER FALSE PRETENSES. I CHOSE THE RAV4 BECAUSE AT THE TIME, IT RECEIVED ALL GOOD RATINGS IN THE VARIOUS CRASHES WHICH HAD BEEN CONDUCTED. THE FACT THAT TOYOTA IS UNWILLING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MISREPRESENTATION IS STARTLING FOR A COMPANY THAT HAS USED SAFETY AS THE FOUNDATION FOR ITS REPUTATION.
Visibility, Structure, Vehicle speed control, Traction control system, Service brakes, Dec 6, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES ACTIVATED AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (PRIME TOYOTA RT 2, 700 OLD UNION TURNPIKE, LANCASTER, MA 01523), BUT COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADAR CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE CLIMATE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT KNOBS JAMMED.*JS UPDATED 9/18/18*JB *JS *TR *JS *TR *JS
Structure, Sep 20, 2017
THE SUNROOF EXPLODES / SHATTERS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70 MPH, NO OTHER CARS ANYWHERE CLOSE TO ME IN A WOODED AREA AND THE SUNROOF SHATTERED. I GOT OUT AND LOOKED AT IT AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE ANYWHERE NEAR THE SUNROOF, NO CHIPS, SCRATCHES, JUST A SHATTERED SUNROOF. YOU WOULD THINK THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A ROCK THROWN UP FROM A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, BUT AS I STATED, THERE WERE NO OTHER DRIVERS EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE TO ME ON THE INTERSTATE.
Structure, Aug 27, 2017
I PURCHASED A NEW 2017 TOYOTA RAV4 IN APRIL AND THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED IN AUGUST. WHILE DRIVING ON I15, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION LIKE A TIRE BLOWOUT FOLLOWED BY SOUNDS OF BREAKING GLASS AND THEN WIND. MY SUNROOF HAD "EXPLODED". I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND EXAMINED THE ROOF. THERE WAS NO INDICATION ANYTHING HAD STRUCK THE GLASS OR MY VEHICLE. THE INSIDE "VISOR" WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME AS WAS THE SUNROOF. I HAD NOT PASSED UNDER ANY OVERPASS OR OTHER OVERHEAD STRUCTURE I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND THEY REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO TOYOTA. TOYOTA DENIED THE "WARRANTY" SINCE I COULD NOT "PROVE" THE GLASS HAD NOT BEEN STRUCK! THE DEALER REPLACED THE GLASS AT NO COST "ONE TIME WARRANTY". I AM CONCERNED THIS PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR SINCE THERE WAS NO CAUSE DETERMINED. PHOTOS ATTACHED
Structure, Aug 22, 2017
AFTER SITTING AT A RED LIGHT ON A CITY STREET, I MADE A LEFT TURN. WHILE TURNING THE DRIVER'S DOOR POPPED OPEN (IT MADE A POPPING SOUND). IT WAS AJAR, NOT FULLY OPEN. I WAS ABLE TO CLOSE IT BACK WHILE CONTINUING TO DRIVE.
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Jul 14, 2017, crash
WHILE PULLING INTO TO A PARKING SPACE,MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED THE CURB CAUSING THE CAR TO HIT A TREE,CAUSING ALL AIR BAGS TO GO OFF. I WAS ASKED IF I HIT THE GAS INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. THIS HAPPENED SO FAST THAT I SUPPOSE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE BUT I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED. IS THERE A WAY THAT THEY CAN TELL WHAT HAPPENEED?