2018 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 331 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 31 involved a crash and 32 involved a fire. 18 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
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
Equipment, other, labelsDec 20, 2017
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Toyota 4Runner and Tundra, 2018 Toyota Highlander, RAV4 and Lexus GX460 and 2017 Toyota Sienna and Tacoma vehicles. These vehicles may have incorrect load carrying capacity modification labels. 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 load information label can result in the operator overloading the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners and provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are H0Z for Toyota vehicles, and HLF for Lexus vehicles.
Campaign 17V831000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
331 reports, newest first.
Power train, Oct 23, 2023
Last week my transmission suddenly and completely failed while driving on the interstate, creating a major safety concern. I was stranded on the interstate for three hours until I could be towed off. The car only has 56,000 miles on it and there were no warnings that there was any problem with the transmission. The transmission previously failed at 7,000 miles and was found to be defective and replaced at the time. How can a car with 56,000 miles on it already have had TWO transmission failures?
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 11, 2023
Door lock actuator had to be replaced. $500
Other or unspecified, Sep 11, 2023
roof leaks,elecktrical connections problems
Power train, Sep 10, 2023
Transmission failure at high speed on the freeway during a non shifting period. Transmission automatically downshifted to 3rd gear at speed on freeway and would not reengage properly to higher gears resulting in immediate red line and sudden slow down in free flowing freeway traffic
Other or unspecified, Sep 9, 2023
Unknown I didn’t have any accidents
Service brakes, Sep 4, 2023
This is 2 times now my brakes give me trouble since i bought the vehicle, the 1st time the brakes died n i had to keep pumping for it to work, the 2nd time it stuck to the floor n i had to use my hand brakes on the freeway.
Other or unspecified, Aug 20, 2023
The torque converter on my 2018 Toyota Rav4 failed and needed to be replaced according to the Toyota dealership. As an experienced driver, I became aware that something was not right with the drivetrain which prompted a service appointment at my local dealership. The problem was detected early and the torque converter was replaced by the dealer at a cost to me of $3,300. If I had not noticed this problem early, it could have resulted in a complete loss of power to the drivetrain even while driving. In addition, although my vehicle is a 2018 model, Toyota acknowledged and addressed this same problem with 2013-2015 models and offered enhanced warranty protection to cover the cost of repairs as documented by Toyota's Warranty Policy Bulletin, No. POL17-06. I contacted Toyota customer service to alert them to this issue but was told there had not been any incidents reported for model years outside of 2013-2015. My concern and the reason for my writing is that Toyota's torque converter problems might exist beyond the 2013-2015 model years.
Electrical system, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 2, 2023
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? When driving the Rav4 the dashboard started to alert that different systems where failing. For example, it was flashing Blind Spot Failure, Land Departure Failure, Front Collision Failure. It the warnings where non-stop while driving the car flashing through the different messages. Yes the car is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? With all the systems altering failure the car no longer became safe to drive and had the potential to stall while driving. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the Toyota service center determined that the car was unsafe to drive due to the failure of the internal wire harness shorting out. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, but a Toyota service center. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No symptoms, the dashboard just started lighting up like a Christmas tree on 7/15.
Power train, Engine, Jul 24, 2023
I have a similar complaint as NHTSA ID Number: 11210210. On several trips over the past few years, while traveling at speeds of 70 mph, my vehicle would have a loud bang and then start bucking and jerking when I briefly let off the accelerator. About 2 weeks ago, I was looking at my speedometer at the time when the bucking started happening. The EV light came on for a brief second and the needle on the charging gage briefly dropped down into the charging status. It seems that the EV motor was trying to engage at speeds causing the bucking. This seems like to be a major concern when traveling at highway speeds. The engagement of the EV motor at highway speeds is like unintended engine braking that possibly lockup the engine and loss of control.
Other or unspecified, Jul 17, 2023
The rear lift gate on my 2018 RAV4 failed. The lifts went out of alignment and pulled the tailgate out of alignment to the point where it's pulling the hinges off the car and will not close. This is a safety issue because I have to drive with the hatch open. There is nothing I could have done to prevent it, or cause it.
Other or unspecified, Jul 15, 2023
The backup camera stopped working when the vehicle is placed in reverse. The screen used to work but now goes black. The screen work fine for everything else. The display works perfect until the xar is put in reverse, then the display goes black.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 3, 2023, fire
The contact owned a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal odor of smoke detected from the vents. The contact pulled over and the vehicle caught fire. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries or air bag deployments. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Engine, Jul 1, 2023
We purchased a 2018 RAV 4 from a DCH Toyota Dealership in Freehold on March 16,2023. In the beginning of June 2023, we saw a message on the dashboard indicating TRAC off and AWD malfunction 2wd mode. the mechanic that we took it too to do a diagnostic to let us know what this message means says there is a transmission problem. In the end, the dealership gave us a junk of a car that was on its last leg and this is misleading your customers. We should not be facing this type of issues 3 months in driving a car.
Power train, Jun 28, 2023
I was driving during work and my transmission went. I could no longer drive forward. I brought my car to Toyota dealership to see about the problem and got a diagnostic test performed, oil change, 4 point inspection and explained that my car is stalling, it’s jerking when I step on the gas and it won’t take off and then just jerks my head. It’s making these rattling noises when I step on the gas. They stated it’s the massive airflow system and throttle body work: I explained I just changed the massive airflow sensor so it can’t be that but he stated that they need to order the piece and I need to come back Friday which I did so they can fix the problem. Not even a week later my transmission is gone and I missed over a week of work. I did have a mechanic look at the issue and I also explained this to Toyota dealership.
Forward collision avoidance, May 17, 2023
Front miliwave sensor malfunction (Radar senor) required replacement immediately due to safety concerns by dealer. Because it could cause unintentional braking. Also because this system is connected to other safety features. I only purchased this car recently from a third party car dealer less than a year ago and this problem only went on for less than a week before service. And the only warning was that the adaptive cruise control stopped working.
Service brakes, May 16, 2023
The front rotors 4 times and been placed due to overheating. I only have 49,540 miles when the fourth set was put on May 10, 2023. The problem is the rotors keep getting overheated and then they warp. I have replaced them 4 times in less than owning the car for 5 years. It appears to happen more frequently now about every 6 months. The problem is confirmed both at 2 different locations in Lees Summit, MO. See receipts below for repair shops.
Electrical system, Engine, May 2, 2023, fire
On the morning of November 4, 2021, at 6:15 a.m., driver was driving to her job as a shuttle driver. She made no stops on her way to work. At approximately 6:30 a.m, drive exited South Padre Island Drive off of Nile Road in her silver 2018 Toyota RAV-4. As she exited the freeway, her car’s console screen went blank, all electricity to the car cut out, and the engine shut off. The car restarted once, cut out again, and then restarted again as she pulled into her employer's driveway. The car cut out once more, and coasted into the parking lot in front of employer. Driver smelled electrical burning and shortly thereafter saw black smoke coming out of the hood. She quickly got out of the car and called 911 after moving safely away from the vehicle and inside the building. A police patroller arrived first and was unable to put out the fire, and at about 6:45 a.m. the Fire Department came and put the fire out.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, May 1, 2023, fire
We bought our Rav4 fresh of the lot in 2018, since then e we have replaced the headlight bulbs 43 times. Now our fog lights and license plate light are out. This time the bulb (installed by a professional) melting the actual socket and we have to built the entire thing out and replace it.
Electrical system, Apr 29, 2023, fire
My daughter and I were driving a Toyota RAV4 from 2018 just like any normal day, the car was working properly, no warnings lights were turned on. While taking a sharp right turn and passing an unevenness on the road the car lost complete power. My daughter couldn’t control the steering wheel of the car, it was stuck. As the car stopped completely, due to gravity, she tried to turn it back on but it didn’t work. A smoke started coming from the front left side of the car’s hood ( or the side of the driver) it was a white smoke. The car didn’t function in any way possible. We stayed inside the car and called roadside assistance. Meanwhile as the electronical gadgets started to turn back on (e.g. radio)the more smoke started coming out of the hood . We noticed that a red light with a car and lock symbol was flashing on top of the radio display monitor, later we learned it was the anti-theft system of the car. We got out of the car and noticed a the flames coming out of the car’s hood. My daughter tried to open the back doors and trunk of the car to save anything if possible, but they didn’t open. Many truckers tried to help us with using their extinguisher (severals) but unfortunately the front hood didn’t open ( was locked). The car ended up burning completely as we waited for firefighter to arrive. A police report was fill out 2023-6-13-6249.
Electrical system, Apr 26, 2023, fire
I only had possession of the vehicle for less than 3 weeks and it seemed to be running without problems. Besides driving the car on the date I picked it up, this was only the fifth time I had driven the car. On April 17, 2023, I was driving the car to an appointment when it stalled while in motion. It did restart without any problem (though I did detect a faint odor that I thought might be a rubbery smell, but now believe was probably an electrical smell), and I drove it the remaining approximately half mile to the appointment. When I got out of the car, I noticed what I thought might be steam (thinking the problem may be the radiator) coming from under the hood. I now know this to have been smoke. I went in the building, signed in, and looked back to the car to see flames coming from under the hood. The fire department was called to put out the fire, and a fire marshal came to investigate the cause. The fire marshal told me that the fire initiated at the battery. I have requested a copy of the investigation report, which he told me will be forwarded to me when it is completed. The car has since been towed to LKQ Pick Your Part salvage yard. Two other cars parked next to me were also damaged by the fire. My safety was at risk as I now know that I was in the car when the incident initiated and the fire began. Others in the area could also have been injured as the fire accelerated. The car was parked in a school parking lot, so had the car exploded, there could have been many injuries. No warnings (lamps or otherwise) appeared. I have since done some research, and have found that spontaneous fires such as these have happened to many other Rav4s year models 2013-2018, most particularly 2018. This was a 2018.
Electrical system, Mar 31, 2023, fire
The contact owns 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH a burning odor was present inside the vehicle and smoke and small flames was present coming from the dashboard and air vents. The vehicle was immediately driven to the local mechanic. After turning the vehicle off the flames and smoke continued. The mechanic unplugged the engine battery and the smoke and the smoke and flames extinguished. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The contact referenced that NHTSA Action Number PE21005. The failure mileage was 21,000.
Other or unspecified, Mar 15, 2023, fire
Police Report - 23-146OF
Service brakes, Feb 22, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while attempting to depress the brake pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that excessive pressure was needed on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that the parking brake had to be engaged while the vehicle was parked. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and brake fluid was added. The failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000.
Other or unspecified, Feb 19, 2023
I bought my 2018 rav4 from dolan toyota of Reno, NV in January of 2022 I also purchased both of the platinum bumper to bumper warranties they offered. Well throughout the year of 2022 I had my vehicle in the shop 5-6 times for bluetooth echoing effect happening ( making my bluetooth hands free feature inoperable). Everytime I took it in the techs say that the can't replicate the problem. Even tho a tech went on a teat ride with me and heard the issue occurring. Now my bluetooth is having paring issues and I have tried to reach out to the service department multiple times since I've had my car in last and the won't respond. I've even sent a ertified demand letter on the 28th of January giving them until March 1st to fix the problem and haven't gotten a response from them yet. I have even brought to their attention there is clearly a problem with their head units because there was a class action lawsuit file in 2021 for this exact problem happening.
Other or unspecified, Feb 12, 2023
While driving, the sunroof shattered for no reason. Upon inspection, one could see the glass pushed upwards. Since this is tempered glass and not lamented, glass shards were blown all over the place, big safety hazard.