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
387 reports, newest first.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 9, 2025
Coolant bypass valve problem with several rav4s. My car is unusable and I need it to work.
Seats, Jul 7, 2025
DRIVER SEAT LOCKED IN FULL FORWARD POSITION AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED FOR LARGER DRIVER. SEAT TRACK FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $2400. THIS OCCURRED AFTER ONLY 76,000 MILES OF USE.
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.
Air bags, Jul 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Jul 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Visibility/wiper, Jun 30, 2025
UKNOWN. The panoramic sunroof of my vehicle exploded unexpectedly while driving on the freeway and the glass shattered everywhere. There were no debris in sight that would cause the incident and the glass of the sunroof was facing outward when inspected seems to indicate that the breakage occurred from inside the vehicle. The shattered glass and shards caused minor injuries on myself and one other passenger. The 'explosion' caused the debris glass to have potentially hit surrounding cars on the freeway. The problem has been reported to the dealer but they denying any reoccurrences of this issue . The vehicle has not yet been inspected but has been reported to insurance. There were no other symptoms prior to the failure.
Air bags, Jun 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 40,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
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
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Jun 10, 2025, fire
While parked in a commercial lot on [XXX] around [XXX], I noticed smoke coming from the front of the vehicle while sitting inside. There was a strong burning rubber smell. I exited and saw flames coming from beneath the front left bumper, directly under the fog light area. I had arrived at the location about 30 minutes earlier. I opened the hood from inside the vehicle, stepped back, and called 911. The fire rapidly engulfed the front of the vehicle. Firefighters arrived within 10 minutes and extinguished the fire. Police responded and created a report. Three nearby vehicles also sustained fire damage. The vehicle had previous front-end repairs (driver side bumper and fog light) and was well maintained. The vehicle had not shown any warning lights or messages prior to the fire. I believe the fire originated from an electrical or engine component and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. GEICO insurance has been contacted and a claim has been opened. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Air bags, Jun 9, 2025
Toyota has failed to provide a solution to a small sensor recall for my vehicle for nearly two years. That is an unacceptable delay for something so simple as a sensor.
Air bags, Jun 4, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Air bags, Seat belts, Jun 3, 2025
UNKNOWN - My car system starting alerting me as if I had no seatbelt on (which I did) and said SRS Airbag Malfunction.
Air bags, Jun 3, 2025
It's been 2 years now and the dealer and Toyota are saying there are no parts available.
Power train, Engine, Jun 2, 2025
"What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?" Coolant bypass valve is malfunctioning. "How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?" unknown "Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?" Service manager at Tuscaloosa Toyota confirmed problem without even inspecting the vehicle. He told me I am not the only Toyota customer experiencing this problem. "Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?" Vehicle nor component has been inspected by manufacturer. "Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?" Warning alert that reads 'engine maintenance required' has been appearing on the vehicle's dashboard for over a year now.
Seats, May 28, 2025
Front drivers seat no longer capable of moving backwards and forwards. One of the rails will not move, causing the seat to rotate left and right and will not move back and forward. This is a hazard as it now no longer is safe for my Wife or I to drive. It is too far back for my wife and too far forward for me. The car is not that old and has not had that many times moving the chair that the expected failure is acceptable.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 20, 2025
Steering power low message appears and engine completely stops.
Engine, May 14, 2025
Pop up of "Engine Maintenance Required" , ran the diagnostic steps and confirmed it is due to coolant bypass leak.
Steering, May 8, 2025
EPS warning light keeps buzzing. This has happened several times recently.
Visibility, May 8, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated that the front driver’s side window became inoperable. The contact stated that the power button would not function properly, and the contact could not get the front window off track. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the window regulator had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,804.
Air bags, May 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Other or unspecified, Engine, May 6, 2025
Coolant Bypass Valve The problem has been confirmed by the dealer Warning: Engine Maintenance Required
Structure, May 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear passenger's side door made an abnormal sloshing sound. Upon inspection, the contact discovered water inside the door. The contact unplugged the rubber seal under the rear passenger door to release the water. The contact was concerned about corrosion of the door and an electrical system failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.
Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, May 4, 2025
The High voltage floor underwire harness and rear traction motor cable corroded. This caused many if the vehicles sensors to fail completely including the tire pressure monitor system, adaptive cruise, collision avoidance, and more. Toyota is aware of this problem and attempted to do a silent warranty extension. This is a safety hazard and all of the known vehicles affected should be recalled!
Air bags, Apr 30, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact was notified of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Steering, Electrical system, Apr 29, 2025
It’s been a year since I have owned my 2021Toyota Rav and it has randomly been shutting off with the notice: Power Steering Voltage Abnormality. I have taken the vehicle to get checked but nothing is coming up indicating what the issue is. The battery is fine, the alternator is fine, and there doesn’t seem to be any electrical issues with the power steering. I have seen that there has been certain recalls on the power steering voltage notice on the Toyota Ravs and owners complaining about a random shut off on their vehicles. I am one of those owners and would like to know why my vehicle hasn’t been issued a recall. It is a safety hazard and concern. My vehicle has been shutting off in the middle of a busy highway. Please look into this issue.