2021 Toyota RAV4 problems and complaints
Owners have filed 389 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Toyota RAV4. The most-reported areas: Air Bags (125), Unknown Or Other (75), Electrical System (47).
Key takeaways
- 389 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 47 involve a crash, 7 a fire, 49 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 125 | 32% |
| Unknown Or Other | 75 | 19% |
| Electrical System | 47 | 12% |
| Engine | 41 | 11% |
| Power Train | 23 | 6% |
| Service Brakes | 21 | 5% |
| Steering | 21 | 5% |
| Structure | 21 | 5% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 21 | 5% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 19 | 5% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 18 | 5% |
| Seats | 18 | 5% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2021 Toyota RAV4
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Toyota RAV4 SUV AWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2021 Toyota RAV4 SUV FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Service Brakes - filed 2026-10-22
I have had several intermittent occasions over the past 3-4 years where the brakes do not stop the vehicle when depressed. I can feel something through the brakes pedal, but cannot explain what it is. So far, I have been able to avoid any accidents, but the infrequency makes it impossible to determine if it is going to...
Power Train - filed 2026-10-21
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the transmission failed to function properly. The contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the transmission while shifting from fourth to fifth gear. The transmission was whining while accelerating and de...
Lane Departure,forward Collision Avoidance - filed 2026-09-25
While changing lanes in my 2021 Toyota RAV4 with my turn signal activated, the Lane Departure Alert / Lane Tracing Assist system applied an unexpected steering input that pulled my vehicle directly into a Jersey barrier, resulting in physical contact with the barrier. I was intentionally and safely moving into the adja...
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More for the 2021 Toyota RAV4
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.