2020 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 635 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 4th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 17 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 14 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationDec 20, 2023
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
Campaign 23V865000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalNov 25, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon and 2020 Avalon Hybrid, RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.
Campaign 20V734000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpNov 4, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna, 2019-2020 Tundra, 2018-2020 Lexus ES350, 2017 Lexus GS200t, 2017-2019 Lexus GS350, 2019 Lexus GS300, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500h, 2019-2020 Lexus LS500, 2018-2019 Lexus GX460, 2017 Lexus IS200t, 2019 Lexus IS300, 2019 Lexus IS350, 2018-2020 Lexus LC500, 2018 Lexus LS500, 2019 Lexus LS500h, 2018-2019 Lexus LX570, 2017 Lexus RC200t, 2019 Lexus RC300, RC350, 2017 and 2019-2020 Lexus RX350, 2018-2020 RX350L, 2019 Lexus UX200, 2018-2019 Lexus NX300 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
Campaign 20V682000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, electric power assist systemJun 24, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 RAV4 and 2020 RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS). Water may enter through the steering gear box cover and cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
A loss of power steering assist could increase steering effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear box, free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB11 / 20TA11.
Campaign 20V373000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control arm, lower armMay 20, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. The front lower suspension arms may have cracks, which may result in the suspension arm separating from the front wheel assembly.
If a suspension control arm breaks, it can result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower suspension arms, free of charge. This recall began August 10, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's interim numbers for this recall are 20TB08 / 20TA08.
Campaign 20V286000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine coolingFeb 6, 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid and Lexus ES300h and 2019-2020 RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with 2.5L 4-Cylinder engines. Porosity in the engine castings may result in cracks than can allow coolant to leak internally and/or externally.
A coolant leak can cause the engine to overheat and cause a vehicle stall in conventional gasoline vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, for all involved vehicles, the engine may get damaged mechanically, possibly resulting in an engine oil leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the engine including the engine block, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 3, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA04. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA02.
Campaign 20V064000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: fuel/propulsion system
90 reports, newest first. Show all
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 5, 2020
THE ACTUAL FUEL TANK CAPACITY OF THE 2019-2020 RAV4 HYBRIDS DO NOT MATCH THE ADVERTISED CAPACITY. THE AVERAGE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT HAS BEEN ABLE TO ENTER THE TANK WHEN THE GAUGE SHOWS NEARLY EMPTY IS 9-11 GALLONS IF UNSAFE FUELING PRACTICES ARE USED. THE FUEL NOZZLE FROM THE PUMP MUST BE PULLED OUT FROM THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT IT FROM SHUTTING OFF WHILE REFUELING.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 4, 2020
FUEL FILLING SHUTS OFF WHEN AT GAS PUMP. TANK NOT CAPABLE OF FILLING TO TOYOTA SPEC GALLON CAPACITY (14.5). MAXIMUM 10.5 GALLONS. GREATLY REDUCING OVERALL MILEAGE AND POSING SAFETY RISK WHEN MANUALLY TOPPING OFF GAS TANK.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 3, 2020
OUR 2020 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID XSE HAS A FAULTY FUEL TANK. TOYOTA ADVERTISED THAT THE TANK IS 14.5 GALLONS. WE ARE ONLY ABLE TO FILL ABOUT 10 GALLONS.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 1, 2020
WHEN THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON (IN THE MANUAL INDICATES THERE'S ABOUT 2.2 GALLONS LEFT IN THE TANK), I CAN PUMP ABOUT 9 GALLONS OF FUEL INTO THE TANK TO THE FIRST CLICK-OFF FROM THE GAS PUMP. SO, FOR A 14.5-GALLON TANK WITH A *2.2-GALLON RESERVE I SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT ABOUT 12 GALLONS IN WHEN I FUEL UP, NOT 9 GALLONS. THE FUEL GAUGE WILL NOT SHOW FULL WHEN FUELING AND THE PUMP FIRST CUTS OFF, IT'S BETWEEN 3/4 AND FULL. THE DTE (DISTANCE TO EMPTY) WILL SHOW ABOUT 410 MILES AT THIS POINT. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO FILL THE TANK TO IT'S STATED CAPACITY. THIS HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY A TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA INDICATED TO THE TECHNICIAN THAT THERE IS NO FIX. TOYOTA IS CONTINUING TO SELL THE RAV4 HYBRIDS WITH DEFECTIVE GAS TANKS.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 31, 2020
TOYOTA ADVERTISED AND SOLD THE CAR WITH 14.5 GALLON TANK, BUT I CANNOT FILL MORE THAN 10 GALLONS BEFORE THE PUMP SHUTS OFF AUTOMATICALLY, AND I DO NOT GET THE RANGE THAT IS ADVERTISED.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 29, 2020
THE GAS TANK OF MY 2020 RAV4 HYBRID IS NOT FILLING PROPERLY. THE TANK IS SUPPOSED TO BE 14.5 GALLONS. MY FUEL GAUGE WILL READ JUST ABOVE EMPTY AND MY DISPLAY SAYS THAT I HAVE 29 MILES TO EMPTY. WHEN I GO TO FILL-UP MY TANK, THOUGH, IT CUTS OFF AFTER ROUGHLY 8.6 - 9 GALLONS. IF IT WAS TRULY ALMOST EMPTY, THIS IS WAY SHORT OF THE AMOUNT OF GAS THAT IT WILL TAKE TO FILL-UP MY TANK. WHEN I TURN THE CAR BACK ON, MY GAS GAUGE READS BETWEEN 3/4 AND FULL. BETWEEN FILL-UPS, I CAN ONLY DRIVE ABOUT 380 MILES. TOYOTA ADVERTISES ABOUT 580 MILES BETWEEN FILL-UPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I FILL-UP AND AT DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 28, 2020
THE GAS TANK WILL NOT COMPLETELY FILL AT THE GAS STATION. WHEN THE GAS LIGHT COMES ON AND SHOWS THAT IT IS EMPTY, I WILL GO TO THE GAS STATION AND IT WILL ONLY ALLOW ME TO FILL UP ABOUT 9-10GALLONS OF GAS. THE GAS TANK IS LISTED AS BEING 14.5GALLONS. THEREFORE, THE REPORTED GAS MILEAGE THAT WAS EXPECTING TO GET FROM THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY UNDER RATED AND INCORRECT. I CAN SLIGHTLY SQUEEZE THE GAS HANDLE AND PUT MORE FUEL IN THE TANK BUT I RUN THE RISK OF POTENTIALLY OVERFILLING AND SPILLING FUEL ON THE GROUND. THIS IS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 27, 2020
THE FUEL TANK WILL ONLY ACCEPT LESS THAN 10 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE STATED CAPACITY OF THE FUEL TANK BY TOYOTA IS 14.5 GALLONS. THIS DEFECT CAUSES AT LEAST TWO PROBLEMS: THE MARKETED RANGE OF THE VEHICLE IS MARKEDLY DIMINISHED, AND THE FUEL GAUGE GIVES FALSE, MISLEADING INFORMATION TO THE POINT YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL IS LEFT. THESE ARE SAFETY ISSUES BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE WHEN AND WHERE YOU WILL RUN OUT OF FUEL.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 24, 2020
TOYOTA ADVERTISES CAR WITH 14.5 GALLONS OF GAS WITH 590 MPG RANGE AND FUEL TOPS OFF AT 10 GALLONS ONLY.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 20, 2020
FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT PROPERLY REGISTER CORRECT FUEL AMOUNT IN VEHICLE. IT IS SHOWING EMPTY WITH ABOUT 4.5 GALLONS LEFT IN FUEL TANK. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS AN ISSUE AND TRIES TO BLAME IT ON ETHANOL FUEL ADDITIVES....
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 15, 2020
THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK CAPACITY IS 14.5 GALLONS. WHEN THE FUEL GAUGE ON THE DASH SHOWS 1/8 OF A TANK, I CAN ONLY ADD 9-10 GALLONS OF FUEL BEFORE THE FUEL PUMP CLICKS OFF. AT A FUEL TANK LEVEL OF 1/8, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO PUT 12-13 GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THERE IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE HERE, BUT I'M NOT ABLE TO GET THE DRIVING RANGE ON A TANK OF FUEL THAT I WAS EXPECTING WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I SHOULD BE GETTING A RANGE IN EXCESS OF 500 MILES PER FILL UP, BUT I'M ONLY GETTING AROUND 400.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 15, 2020
I WAS TOLD MY TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID HAS A 14.5 GALLON GAS TANK. EVEN WHEN FILLING UP WHEN THE GAS LIGHT TURNS ON, I AM BARELY ABLE TO FILL 10 - 11 GALLONS. UPON FILL-UP, THE SYSTEMS SHOW 520 MILES (EXAMPLE) TO EMPTY BUT WITHIN 20 MILES OF DRIVING THE BALANCES RUNS DOWN TO UNDER 450.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 9, 2020
2020 RAV4 XLE HYBRID. FUEL GAUGE SHOWS EMPTY WHEN ONLY APPROXIMATELY 10 GALLONS OF THE 14.5 GALLON TANK HAVE BEEN USED. THIS LEADS TO GETTING FAR LESS RANGE FROM A TANK OF GAS THAN THE VEHICLE SHOULD OR IS ADVERTISED TO GET. WHEN YOU FILL THE TANK THE COMPUTER FIRST ESTIMATES OVER 500 MILE RANGE BUT THEN QUICKLY DROPS AND ACTUAL RANGE YOU GET IS MORE THAN 100 MILES LESS DUE TO THE FUEL TANK PROBLEM.
Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 30, 2019
VEHICLE INDICATES FUEL EMPTY (GAS GAUGE AND WARNINGS) AFTER APPROX 350 MILES. FUEL TANK SUPPOSED TO BE 14.5 GAL., BUT TANK ONLY ACCEPTS 9-10 GALLONS FUEL BEFORE SHUTOFF. 1 FULL TANK FROM DEALER PLUS 1 FILL-UP WITH SAME RESULT. VEHICLE ALSO ONLY AVERAGING 36 MPG AFTER 2 TANKS MOSTLY HIGHWAY & NOW INTO 1 TANK MIXED CITY/HIGHWAY (TOYOTA INDICATES 38 HIGHWAY/40 CITY). EITHER FUEL TANK IS DEFECTIVE/CAPACITY IS INACCURATE, GAUGES/COMPUTER/WARNINGS ARE DEFECTIVE, OR BOTH?
Fuel/propulsion system, Dec 28, 2019
GAS LIGHT COMES ON AFTER THE CAR HAS CONSUMED ~10 GALLONS. THE VEHICLE IS ADVERTISED HAVING 14.5 GALLON TANK WITH 580 MILE TRIP.