2017 Toyota RAV4 HYBRID

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2017 Toyota RAV4 HYBRID has 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (14% of all complaints), specifically: while driving on a city street i heard a large noise that sounded like a gun shot. i pulled over to look at the car to see if it had been shot. i saw nothing out of the ordinary. it was approximately 0-15 degrees f at the time. later while looking out my second story window i noticed a spot that app.

2 crash reports 5 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

VISIBILITY

3 complaints

14%

• WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET I HEARD A LARGE NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. I PULLED OVER TO LOOK AT THE CAR TO SEE IF IT HAD BEEN SHOT. I SAW NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 0-15 DEGREES F AT THE TIME. LATER WHILE LOOKING OUT MY SECOND STORY WINDOW I NOTICED A SPOT THAT APP
• WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET I HEARD A LARGE NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. I PULLED OVER TO LOOK AT THE CAR TO SEE IF IT HAD BEEN SHOT. I SAW NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 0-15 DEGREES F AT THE TIME. LATER WHILE LOOKING OUT MY SECOND STORY WINDOW I NOTICED A SPOT THAT APP
• THE WIPERS DO NOT WORK IN COLD WEATHER, THE WIPERS ARE STUCK EVEN WITH A CLEAN WINDSHIELD

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET I HEARD A LARGE NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. I PULLED OVER TO LOOK AT THE CAR TO SEE IF IT HAD BEEN SHOT. I SAW NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 0-15 DEGREES F AT THE TIME. LATER WHILE LOOKING OUT MY SECOND STORY WINDOW I NOTICED A SPOT THAT APP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

3 complaints

14%

• PURCHASED 02/13/17. MAR VA TO FL, SEAT HEATER ON, NOTICED HOT SMELL SEAT GOT EXTREMELY HOT, TURNED IT OFF, TAKES 10-15 MINS TO COOL DOWN WHILE IN SEAT. DAY 2 OF TRIP, HAPPENED AGAIN. STOPPED AT REST AREA, JEANS STUCK TO LEG, EXAM SHOWED RED POPPED BLISTER ON UPPER RIGHT LEG, EXTREMELY PAINFUL. APP
• 2017 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED BRAKING WHILE CAR IS IN CRUISE CONTROL. *LD *TR
• The contact owns a 2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while the vehicle was being charged, the battery intermittently failed to charge. As a result, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that unknown warning lights were illuminated but turned off after t

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“PURCHASED 02/13/17. MAR VA TO FL, SEAT HEATER ON, NOTICED HOT SMELL SEAT GOT EXTREMELY HOT, TURNED IT OFF, TAKES 10-15 MINS TO COOL DOWN WHILE IN SEAT. DAY 2 OF TRIP, HAPPENED AGAIN. STOPPED AT REST AREA, JEANS STUCK TO LEG, EXAM SHOWED RED POPPED BLISTER ON UPPER RIGHT LEG, EXTREMELY PAINFUL. APP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

2 complaints

10%

• I PURCHASED A 2017 RAV4 FROM BIG2TOYOTA IN CHANDLER AZ ON THE 23RD OF MARCH 2017.THERE WERE SEVERAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH SALES PERSON PHIL HARMON CONCERNING THE PURCHASE.I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS VEHICLE AND SAW A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT MOVEMENT OF THE HOOD WHEN DRIVING, SOME EVEN DESCRIBE
• I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT IN MY CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (AT ZERO MPH). AS I WAS TRYING TO PUT IT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND JUMPED INTO THE HILLY WOODS. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN AND I WASN'T ABL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I PURCHASED A 2017 RAV4 FROM BIG2TOYOTA IN CHANDLER AZ ON THE 23RD OF MARCH 2017.THERE WERE SEVERAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH SALES PERSON PHIL HARMON CONCERNING THE PURCHASE.I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS VEHICLE AND SAW A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT MOVEMENT OF THE HOOD WHEN DRIVING, SOME EVEN DESCRIBE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

2 complaints

10%

• I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT IN MY CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (AT ZERO MPH). AS I WAS TRYING TO PUT IT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND JUMPED INTO THE HILLY WOODS. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN AND I WASN'T ABL
• 2017 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED BRAKING WHILE CAR IS IN CRUISE CONTROL. *LD *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT IN MY CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (AT ZERO MPH). AS I WAS TRYING TO PUT IT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND JUMPED INTO THE HILLY WOODS. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN AND I WASN'T ABL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

2 complaints

10%

• WHILE DRIVING IN RADAR CRUISE MODE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP FULLY IF THE CAR IN FRONT DROPS BELOW 25 MPH. IT WILL BEEP ANS THEN ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO REAREND THE CAR IN FRONT.
• PURCHASED 02/13/17. MAR VA TO FL, SEAT HEATER ON, NOTICED HOT SMELL SEAT GOT EXTREMELY HOT, TURNED IT OFF, TAKES 10-15 MINS TO COOL DOWN WHILE IN SEAT. DAY 2 OF TRIP, HAPPENED AGAIN. STOPPED AT REST AREA, JEANS STUCK TO LEG, EXAM SHOWED RED POPPED BLISTER ON UPPER RIGHT LEG, EXTREMELY PAINFUL. APP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE DRIVING IN RADAR CRUISE MODE, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP FULLY IF THE CAR IN FRONT DROPS BELOW 25 MPH. IT WILL BEEP ANS THEN ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO REAREND THE CAR IN FRONT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 21 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
VISIBILITY: WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET I HEARD A LARGE NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. I PULLED OVER TO LOOK AT THE CAR TO SEE IF IT HAD BEEN SHOT. I SAW NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 0-15 DEGREES F AT THE TIME. LATER WHILE LOOKING OUT MY SECOND STORY WINDOW I NOTICED A SPOT THAT APP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: PURCHASED 02/13/17. MAR VA TO FL, SEAT HEATER ON, NOTICED HOT SMELL SEAT GOT EXTREMELY HOT, TURNED IT OFF, TAKES 10-15 MINS TO COOL DOWN WHILE IN SEAT. DAY 2 OF TRIP, HAPPENED AGAIN. STOPPED AT REST AREA, JEANS STUCK TO LEG, EXAM SHOWED RED POPPED BLISTER ON UPPER RIGHT LEG, EXTREMELY PAINFUL. APP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: I PURCHASED A 2017 RAV4 FROM BIG2TOYOTA IN CHANDLER AZ ON THE 23RD OF MARCH 2017.THERE WERE SEVERAL COMMUNICATIONS WITH SALES PERSON PHIL HARMON CONCERNING THE PURCHASE.I HAD DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS VEHICLE AND SAW A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT MOVEMENT OF THE HOOD WHEN DRIVING, SOME EVEN DESCRIBE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT IN MY CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (AT ZERO MPH). AS I WAS TRYING TO PUT IT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND JUMPED INTO THE HILLY WOODS. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN AND I WASN'T ABL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)