2021 Toyota RAV4
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 387 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 26 RAV4 model years with reports.
Of the 2021 reports, 47 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 49 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
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
75 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Sep 23, 2026
Coolant bypass valve but toyota of richardson said the csp does not cover it. My engine maintenance required pop up on my dashboard
Other or unspecified, Sep 13, 2026
I am reporting a serious safety concern involving the sunroof glass on my 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited AWD. On July 3, 2026, at approximately 37,350 miles, I was driving the vehicle when the entire sunroof glass suddenly and catastrophically shattered. There was no traffic around me, there was no debris in the roadway, I was not traveling under an overpass, and I am not aware of any impact or other event that could have caused the glass to break. The failure was completely unexpected. I heard a very, very loud sound, similar to a gunshot. Immediately afterward, the entire sunroof glass had shattered into small granules. A very small piece of shattered glass also flew off the vehicle. I was able to quickly close the interior sunroof visor, which fortunately prevented the majority of the shattered glass from falling into the passenger compartment and prevented injury. There was nevertheless some glass that fell into the roof liner. I immediately contacted my insurance company and the car was towed to my Toyota dealership. The sunroof was replaced with a Toyota original part and the replacement was paid by my insurance company. This incident created a significant safety hazard because the sunroof glass failed suddenly and violently while the vehicle was being driven. The extremely loud explosion-like sound and the sudden loss of the sunroof glass could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle or could result in glass striking occupants. In this instance, I was fortunate that the visor was closed quickly and that there was no surrounding traffic. I believe NHTSA should investigate whether there is a defect or other safety-related problem with the sunroof glass or its installation in this vehicle, particularly if similar spontaneous breakage incidents have occurred in other Toyota RAV4 vehicles. I am reporting this incident because the glass appeared to fail spontaneously, without an apparent collision, road debris, overpass, or other external impact.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 5, 2026
I have a faulty coolant bypass valve on my 2021 Toyota RAV4. Every time I turn on the air conditioning the service engine required comes up on my notifications a known recall problem for Toyota RAV4’s of this year
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 23, 2026
My 2021 Toyota RAV4 began experiencing intermittent shuddering and vibration at low speeds around May 2026. The condition occurred while accelerating from a stop or at slow speeds and became more frequent over time. Because the problem was intermittent, the dealership was initially unable to duplicate it. Independent inspection later found dark transmission fluid containing metal debris, indicating internal transmission failure. I was informed the transmission requires replacement or rebuild. My vehicle has approximately 94,000 miles, which is well below the expected service life of a modern transmission. The symptoms are consistent with numerous reported complaints involving Toyota’s UA80 automatic transmission and torque converter. An unexpected loss of smooth power delivery or hesitation during acceleration creates a potential safety risk, particularly when entering traffic or crossing intersections. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can investigate as this is a very dangerous and concearning issue.
Other or unspecified, Jul 17, 2026
The sunroof exploded spontaneously while I was driving. It sounded like a gunshot. There were no other vehicles around, so it wasn't caused by a stray rock. It was only 73 degrees, so I don't think it was heat related.
Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2026
What component or system failed, and is it available for inspection? The roof/water sealing system failed, allowing water to enter the vehicle interior. It is available for inspection upon request. How was safety put at risk? Water intrusion through the roof caused visible mold growth, interior deterioration, and a severe foul odor. The mold and contamination inside the vehicle is causing constant illness to the occupant, creating a serious ongoing health and safety hazard. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center? The vehicle was brought to a service center for inspection, however they refused to inspect it. The problem has not been formally confirmed. Has the vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance, or others? The vehicle was taken in for inspection but the dealer/service center declined to inspect it. No manufacturer, police, or insurance inspection has taken place. Were there warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to failure? When did they first appear? No warning lamps or messages appeared. The symptoms that developed include: Water entering through the roof Visible mold growth Interior deterioration Severe foul odor described as "rotten rat" smell Occupant experiencing constant illness due to exposure
Other or unspecified, May 27, 2026
Water sloshing around inside the passenger door after rain or car wash. If you pull at the seal a little bit, water pours out. This has happened a few times now in the last year of owning the car. The rear seatbelt sensor also goes off randomly, when no one is sitting in the back seat.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 7, 2026
Upon taking my 2021 Rav4 Hybrid in for the rear traction motor cable corrosion recall (25TD01) on 5/7/2026, I was told there are no parts, no estimated arrival time, and therefore not even a rough estimate for a timeframe of repair. I was told that no one would inspect or evaluate the part in question to indicate if the car was safe to drive. I expressed my extreme concern given the recall includes risk of power failure, even while driving. I received inconsistent, avoidant answers and an absolute denial to remedy the situation in any way. I was told the dealership is "Dolan" and not "Toyota". I again expressed my concerns about safety and the dealerships' denial to, at minimum inspect the recalled part and/or housing of the part. Emily, the Service manager stated that Toyota does not "allow" loaner vehicles for this particular recall. She could not provide any sources for this information. To summarize; the dealer with not provide an inspection of the recalled part and/or housing, or give an estimated timeline for repair given I am #125 on a waitlist. There is a complete lack of regard for mine or my children's safety as the dealer will not provide any assessment of how bad the damage could be. They suggested that I continue to drive the vehicle, acknowledging all of the safety hazards that could occur. I am terrified of the possibility of having an accident with my kids in the car due to this recalled part failing, not having a vehicle to get to and from work, and the potential additional costs that this unaddressed recall issue could cause. Please advise!
Other or unspecified, Mar 5, 2026
The sunroof shattered without any thing hitting the glass
Other or unspecified, Mar 4, 2026
On 2/24/2026, while driving down I-5 Freeway, the panoramic sun roof spontaneously shattered while I was driving. It sounded like a gunshot. Nobody was injured. There was no accident. I pulled off the freeway and the WASDOT incident response truck pulled off with me to inspect. He taped the shattered and cracking glass until I could get to Safelite in Federal Way and get a crash wrap so glass didn't continue to fly off while I was driving. I contacted my glass repair team and he reported to me that this has happened with thousands of my toyota cars. I will be calling the dealership today.
Other or unspecified, Nov 18, 2025
I was driving for less than 5 minutes when my sunroof exploded and shattered out of nowhere. My safety was put at risk for several reasons - 1) it sounded like a gun shot had come at me while I was operating the vehicle which was extremely startling. 2) Glass could have shattered all over me and affected my sight on the road. 3) I had to pull over on a busy road not knowing where glass was in my car. 4) This happened due to NO impact, out of NOWHERE.
Other or unspecified, Oct 22, 2025
I was driving on the highway and my panoramic moonroof spontaneously shattered. It sounded like a gunshot and I didn't realize what had happened until I was able to pull over and examine my car several minutes later. I was very shaken up from the noise and knowing something was wrong with my vehicle but not knowing what happened. As far as I know I didn't have anything hit my vehicle/sunroof and I was driving on a stretch of road with no tree cover at the time. I had the inside sliding part of the moonroof closed so all of the broken glass was contained in there, but if it had been open the broken glass would've fallen all over my head while driving. When looking up information on this online I can see that several people have had similar issues and there looks to be a class action lawsuit in progress about this problem. https://lemberglaw.com/class-actions/gamez-v-toyota-motor/ The sound of the glass shattering was alarming in itself, and also any glass on the roof needs to be laminated to reduce the risk of accidents caused by glass falling on people if they don't have the inside slider closed to catch it.
Other or unspecified, Oct 21, 2025, crash
The contact owned a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that his wife had just parked the vehicle in front of the business and was about to move the shift gear lever to park(P), when the vehicle accelerated independently, jumped the cement parking block, and crashed into a tree, where it came to a stop. None of the air bags were deployed. The contact suffered minor injuries; had a bruise on the right breast, back pain, chest pain, and lower neck pain that did not require medical attention. The police were not notified. The vehicle was towed to a collision center, and the insurance company then towed to vehicle to another collision center where the vehicle was declared a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,000.
Other or unspecified, Oct 8, 2025
While driving on the freeway at normal speed, the glass sunroof shattered. There were no other cars around and we were out in the open, not driving under an overpass or anything. It was an 80 degree day, sunny and not windy.
Other or unspecified, Jul 4, 2025
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The air conditioning condenser was damaged due to impact from a rock, resulting in a loss of cooling function. The damaged condenser is still installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. • How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The damage to the air condenser caused the air conditioning system to stop functioning, which posed a potential safety risk by reducing visibility due to fogging of windows and contributing to driver fatigue or discomfort during hot weather conditions. • Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the issue was confirmed by a certified service center. Upon inspection, they verified that a rock had punctured the air condenser, causing refrigerant loss and disabling the air conditioning system. • Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The damage has been inspected by an independent service center. It has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives, but it is available for review if needed. • Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lamps or messages appeared. The first symptom was a noticeable loss of cool air from the vents, which occurred immediately following the incident with the rock. Every mechanic I talk to says they see this all the time. Clearly this is a design flaw and should be a recall. This vehicle is supposed to be an off roading vehicle. How do rocks even get there and damage it? I have to use my insurance to cover this claim as my warranty won’t cover this damage.
Other or unspecified, Jun 12, 2025
I was driving down the highway alone at speed limit, with no traffic in front of me. My sunroof, which was closed, exploded without warning. It was literally like a gun going off when this occurred. I curled up in a ball in my seat but did not jerk the steering wheel. The interior of the car was covered in small and larger glass shards. I stopped to examine the damage and found that the sunroof had exploded up like it had been under some kind of pressure. Later, when I arrived at my destination, I found many accounts online of the same "explosion" occurring in the 2021 rav 4 hybrid model like mine. In addition to the reported incidents, I found this; "Is There a Problem with the Sunroof in the 2021 Toyota RAV4? There certainly is a problem with the 2021 Toyota RAV4 sunroof. Multiple owners of 2021 Toyota RAV4s, including the Hybrid and Prime, have complained to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). They say their sunroofs (or moonroofs) explode spontaneously without any impact. When this happens, the glass shatters, which is a safety issue. However, Toyota appears to be disregarding the issue. There are several reports by owners stating that dealers refuse to help. Instead, they tell them to contact their insurance companies." It seems there was a class action lawsuit filed or being put together in 2023 but I do not know the status or result. I have exhausted talks with Toyota after paying $600 for their defective glass to be replaced. They refuse to accept responsibility. This is incredibly dangerous because of the explosion that occurs and because of the tiny slivers of glass that could blind the occupants. I question how many accidents may have actually occurred because of the blast and/or the flying glass shards. A normal reaction would be to jerk the wheel and its a surprise that I didn't. Now I am $600 out of pocket for replacing defective glass and have zero assurance that this won't occur again in the future. Thanks for your help
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 6, 2025
Coolant Bypass Valve The problem has been confirmed by the dealer Warning: Engine Maintenance Required
Other or unspecified, Apr 25, 2025
The glass panel of my 2021 Toyota RAV4 sunroof blew out, shattering explosively, sounded like a rifle shot going off, into hundreds of pieces of small bits of glass while traveling on a smooth interstate highway with no other vehicles in close proximity. If the interior solid panel had not been closed, I would have been showered with all the small glass particles while traveling at 65 mph. I have not been able to reproduce the shattering of the glass. I did not go to the dealer because there is hardly anything left to examine. I have read the failure of Toyota sunroofs have been reported on other models previously. The damaged sunroof has only been examined by a body shop to do an estimate of the cost of the repair. There was no warning, or symptoms of the impending failure of the glass. The vehicle only has about 22, 500 miles of use.
Other or unspecified, Apr 24, 2025
The air conditioning system did not blow cold air. The temperature in the car rose quickly without the AC working. The dealer services recharged it and tried to find leaks, but did not find them. Dye was added and I need to go back to the dealer if warm air is blown again. Recently I’ve heard AC issues from other drivers too about this model of Toyota cars.
Other or unspecified, Apr 21, 2025
Sold as a certified vehicle and does not meet criteria or certified performance. Cyberstalkers by the use of Unauthorized Wifi screw cameras installed by Toyota employee in the mount of the rear view mirror. Unauthorized GPS tracker installed by Toyota employee and attached to the undercarriage of the vehicle. Unauthorized Wifi screw camera installed by Toyota employee located interior of the front grill of the Vehicle.
Other or unspecified, Apr 15, 2025
The steering warning light comes on in stopped traffic. It goes back off after starting to drive again. I have had the car checked 2 times and everything checks out fine with no error codes. It also says voltage abnormally steering power low when the warning light comes on. The battery power was also checked at the auto shop and is fine. It has happened multiple times over the past couple months.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 5, 2025
Several malfunction warnings (pre-collision system malfunction, AWD malfunction, engine malfunction, parking brake malfunction) as well as several warning lights appeared on my dash. Took vehicle to a Toyota dealership for repairs. Fuel pump was replaced. Drove car a few days later and all the same warnings and lights came back on and this time the vehicle stalled in the middle of the road while driving. Was able to restart but had as soon as vehicle was stopped it would stall. Had to restart the vehicle several times while driving 2 miles just to get it home.
Other or unspecified, Mar 8, 2025
This is an online complaint because the manufacturer has failed to remedy the safety recall for the Occupant Classification System (OCS) in a timely manner. The recall was announced in December 2023 and they still don’t have a remedy - this is unacceptable because in a crash, the airbag may not deploy and there is a risk of injury.
Air bags, Seats, Other or unspecified, Jan 12, 2025
Toyota issued a preliminary recall in December 2023. I visited my dealership in January 2024, where I purchased my car and learned that there was no fix. Given I use my car to transport my twin babies, I asked for a loaner since they confirmed (at that time) that my car would have a fix later in 2024. I repeatedly checked in on the vehicle and to date, there is no fix. I am paying my car note and do not have possession of my car. I have been told my NY state that since this is a recall, it is not subject to the lemon law program. I've tried working with Toyota and they refuse to rebuy the car or fix the car. They also refuse to release the car to me. I am being forced to drive a loaner vehicle and pay a car note with NO fixes or repairs being done to the vehicle. I need assistance getting my car fixed or refunded for the purchase. It's been over a year that they've held the car and they have no plans to fix it. I'm including a letter that details the incident. I'm happy to follow up with other materials (copy of repair slip when the car was taken by Toyota, proof of ownership, etc.) This should not be allowed to continue. Toyota has had over a year to fix this and we've passed their scheduled remedy month by over 4 months. Thank you for your consideration.
Other or unspecified, Oct 29, 2024
On [XXX] I discovered and reported the unauthorized and unlawful installation of a wifi screw spy camera in my vehicle to Officer Palamcci from the Danvers Police Station located in Danvers, Ma. The WiFi Screw spy camera is discreetly installed in my vehicle. Which was recently purchased at IRA Toyota Danvers, M. The WiFi screw spy camera installed by a Toyota employee has the presence of a LED in the center of the black WiFi screw which is currently screwed inside the mount of the rear view mirror. This is in violation of Toyota’s Code of Conduct safe practices and procedures and privacy laws and regulations. I have submitted the criminal complaint to the FBI, Danvers Police station, Woburn Toyota and Woburn Police Station. CC: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)