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
307 reports, newest first.
Air bags, Mar 18, 2017
THE LIGHT FOR "SRS AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO ON WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY OR COUNTRY ROADS. THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF ONLY ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF.
Other or unspecified, Mar 6, 2017
WAS DRIVING AND THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM PICKED UP A CAR IN THE LEFT HAND TURNING LANE WHEN I WAS GOING STRAIGHT AND BROUGHT MY CAR TO A DEAD STOP. HAPPENED A SECOND TIME- SAME TRIP, DIFFERENT LOCATION. NO PRE-BRAKE OR WARNING, JUST BROUGHT MY CAR TO A DEAD STOP WHEN PASSING A CAR IN A TURNING LANE TO MY LEFT AND THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME EITHER TIME- MY CAR WAS IN MOTION. 55MPH THE FIRST TIME, 45 MPH THE SECOND. BOTH TIMES GOING STRAIGHT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD A SAFETY INSPECTOR FROM TOYOTA COME OUT AND RUN TESTS- THEY GAVE ME MY CAR BACK AND SAID I WOULD HAVE THE RESULTS OF THE TEST WITHIN 30 DAYS. MY CONCERN IS WHY THIS HAPPENED IN THE FIRST PLACE AND WHAT WAS DONE TO ENSURE IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I BOUGHT THE CAR ON 2/4/2017.
Other or unspecified, Feb 7, 2017
UNABLE TO HEAR LANE DEPARTURE ALERT MOST OF THE TIME. DEALER SAYS IT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED, CONFIRMED BY TOYOTA.COM.
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
Service brakes, Dec 29, 2016, crash
I WAS DRIVING AND TAKING A TURN AND AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN RESULT IN A MINOR ACCIDENT. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Dec 28, 2016
WHILE DRIVING ON CRUISE CONTROL AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MPH, MY RAV 4 CAME TO AN ABRUPT DEAD STOP WITH NO WARNING. THERE WAS NOT A CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, BUT A CAR WAS STOPPED IN A MEDIAN TO MY LEFT FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF MY CAR. I COULD ONLY ASSUME THAT MY RAV 4 APPARENTLY SENSED THAT CAR WHEN IT CAME TO A SUDDEN DEAD STOP. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO MY CAR AND THOUGHT THE ENGINE HAD SHUT OFF. A PASSENGER WITH ME, WHO IS A WITNESS TO THIS EVENT, IS AN OWNER OF A RAV 4 SE WITHOUT THE SAFETY SENSE/PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM. WE WERE SHOOK UP BY THIS BECAUSE HAD THERE BEEN A CAR OR SEMI TRUCK TRAILER BEHIND US, WE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED. I REPORTED THIS INCIDENT TO THE DEALER, TOYOTA OF WARREN, WHERE WE PURCHASED THE NEW CAR, AND AFTER A DAY IN SERVICE, THEY SAID THE CAR WAS WORKING FINE WITH THE SENSORS ALIGNED CORRECTLY. I WAS TO LET THEM KNOW IF THIS SITUATION OCCURRED AGAIN, AND IT DID. IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, AGAIN WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND WITH NO CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, A CAR IN THE PASSING LANE WENT BY ME AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH TO MY 65 MPH. MY CAR CAME TO A DEAD STOP. THANK GOD THERE WAS NOT A CAR BEHIND ME AT THE TIME, OR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THIS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT WE EXPERIENCED, WE FOUND A NUMBER OF REPORTS CONCERNING THIS VERY SITUATION HAPPENING WITH THEIR RAV 4'S COMING TO SUDDEN STOPS FOR NO REASON. THESE REPORTS OF THIS VERY PROBLEM WERE REPORTED TO TOYOTA WITH NO RESOLUTION. THESE OWNERS ALSO SOLD THEIR CARS AT A LOSS BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUES. ACCORDING TO THESE REPORTS, TOYOTA DOES KNOW THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS, BUT IS NOT BEING ADDRESSED. *TR
Other or unspecified, Dec 19, 2016
LANE DEVIATION WARNING IS NOT AUDIBLE WHEN VEERING EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT AT SPEEDS OVER 32 MILES PER HOUR AS STATED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. OUR 2015 TOYOTA RAV 4 LANE DEVIATION WARNING WAS LOUD AND CLEAR.