2013 Toyota RAV4

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Toyota RAV4 has 331 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: purchased new 2013 rav4 on 23 mar 13. the entune navigation display (both day and night mode) is very difficult to see in bright daylight (in day mode) or at night time (in night mode). this is a serious distraction when using the navigation and results in the driver having to avert eyes to focus . ⚠️ 34 fire reports filed.

34 fire reports 25 crash reports 15 injuries

331

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

74 complaints

22%

• PURCHASED NEW 2013 RAV4 ON 23 MAR 13. THE ENTUNE NAVIGATION DISPLAY (BOTH DAY AND NIGHT MODE) IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IN BRIGHT DAYLIGHT (IN DAY MODE) OR AT NIGHT TIME (IN NIGHT MODE). THIS IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION WHEN USING THE NAVIGATION AND RESULTS IN THE DRIVER HAVING TO AVERT EYES TO FOCUS
• 2 SEPARATE EPISODES OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN A BRAND NEW CAR DEALER UNABLE TO VERIFY DEFECT. *TR
• I BOUGHT A NEW 2013 RAV 4 WITH TOYOTA NAVIGATION. ON ANY SUNNY DAY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE MAP DUE TO THE GLARE. I PLAN ON COMPLAINING TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 13 fire reports

“PURCHASED NEW 2013 RAV4 ON 23 MAR 13. THE ENTUNE NAVIGATION DISPLAY (BOTH DAY AND NIGHT MODE) IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IN BRIGHT DAYLIGHT (IN DAY MODE) OR AT NIGHT TIME (IN NIGHT MODE). THIS IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION WHEN USING THE NAVIGATION AND RESULTS IN THE DRIVER HAVING TO AVERT EYES TO FOCUS ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

54 complaints

16%

• PURCHASED NEW 2013 RAV4 ON 23 MAR 13. THE ENTUNE NAVIGATION DISPLAY (BOTH DAY AND NIGHT MODE) IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IN BRIGHT DAYLIGHT (IN DAY MODE) OR AT NIGHT TIME (IN NIGHT MODE). THIS IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION WHEN USING THE NAVIGATION AND RESULTS IN THE DRIVER HAVING TO AVERT EYES TO FOCUS
• THE VEHICLE DOES NOT COME WITH VOICE ACTIVATED BLUETOOTH. TO MAKE A CALL YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH SEVERAL STEPS, ONE INCLUDES LOOKING AT A SCREEN WHICH IS HARD TO SEE, IF THERE IS A GLARE ON IT. YOU SPEND TOO MUCH TIME LOOKING AT SCREEN TO FIND NUMBER, ALL THE WHILE WITH YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD. *TR
• AT ANY SPEED IN ANY WEATHER IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM IN THIS VEHICLE...THIS NEEDS ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURE AS IS A PAID FOR UPGRADE AND DUE TO PEOPLE WORKING TO SEE THE SYSTEM ACCIDENTS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 10 fire reports💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

31 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL, AND THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIME
• I HAVE BROUGHT MY 2013 RAV 4 BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS A DAMP AND MUSTY SMELL COMING THRU THE AIR VENTS. TOYOTA HAS REPLACED THE AIR FILTER AND SPRAYED SOME AIR FRESHENER BUT THE SMELL IS STILL THERE. THE SERVICE REP HAD EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE IS A DRAIN AND T
• I PURCHASED THE 2013 RAV4 IN APRIL, 2013. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, I BEGAN TO SMELL AN ODOR COMING FROM THE AC WHEN I START THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE BOX THAT HOLDS THE AC CONDENSATION IS TOO SMALL DUE TO MANUFACTURING CHANGES. ON MY SECOND TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THIS COMPLAINT, TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 9 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL, AND THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIME”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

29 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55MPH,MY NEW 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY WHEN I ACCELERATED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD ASAP AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE IS LESS THAN 600 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *
• WHILE ACCELERATING FROM APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, A JERK WAS FELT AND A NOISE WAS HEARD AS THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING GEARS. (THIS VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC.) THIS SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN LATER THE SAME DAY. HOWEVER, AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT, THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT AND THE "TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT C
• ON LOCAL ROAD, ACCELERATING FROM STOP. VEHICLE SUDDENLY "SHUT-OFF" GOING INTO NEUTRAL AND UNABLE TO PUT BACK INTO DRIVE. STEERING WENT "LIMP". VEHICLE DRIFTED RIGHT, POWER STEERING WAS EFFECTED, STEERING DIFFICULT. VEHICLE COASTED INTO PARKING LOT TO THE RIGHT, FORTUNATELY NO VEHICLES HAPPENED T

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

“WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55MPH,MY NEW 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY WHEN I ACCELERATED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD ASAP AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE IS LESS THAN 600 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

28 complaints

• THE INSTALLED NAVIGATION SCREEN IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN THE DRIVER'S NORMAL DRIVING POSITION AND IN ALMOST ANY DAYTIME LIGHTING CONDITION. GLARE FROM THE SCREEN AND DASHBOARD BORDERS ON UNSAFE. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY USE THAT ITEM AND THE 12 OR SO FUNCTIONS LOCATED THERE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DISTR
• THE CENTER CONSOLE SLIDES BACK AND FORTH. WHILE DRIVING, IF YOU HAVE YOUR ARM ON IT, IT WILL SLIDE. THE LOCKING MECHANISM DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. *TR
• THE CENTER CONSOLE SLIDES BACK AND FORTH. WHILE DRIVING, IF YOU HAVE YOUR ARM ON IT, IT WILL SLIDE. THE LOCKING MECHANISM DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED. IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN A PASSENGER IS USING THE CENTER CONSOLE AS AN ARM REST AS WELL, IF YO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“THE INSTALLED NAVIGATION SCREEN IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN THE DRIVER'S NORMAL DRIVING POSITION AND IN ALMOST ANY DAYTIME LIGHTING CONDITION. GLARE FROM THE SCREEN AND DASHBOARD BORDERS ON UNSAFE. THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY USE THAT ITEM AND THE 12 OR SO FUNCTIONS LOCATED THERE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT DISTR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 331 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: PURCHASED NEW 2013 RAV4 ON 23 MAR 13. THE ENTUNE NAVIGATION DISPLAY (BOTH DAY AND NIGHT MODE) IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IN BRIGHT DAYLIGHT (IN DAY MODE) OR AT NIGHT TIME (IN NIGHT MODE). THIS IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION WHEN USING THE NAVIGATION AND RESULTS IN THE DRIVER HAVING TO AVERT EYES TO FOCUS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: PURCHASED NEW 2013 RAV4 ON 23 MAR 13. THE ENTUNE NAVIGATION DISPLAY (BOTH DAY AND NIGHT MODE) IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE IN BRIGHT DAYLIGHT (IN DAY MODE) OR AT NIGHT TIME (IN NIGHT MODE). THIS IS A SERIOUS DISTRACTION WHEN USING THE NAVIGATION AND RESULTS IN THE DRIVER HAVING TO AVERT EYES TO FOCUS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE, THE TRACTION CONTROL, AND THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIME
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 55MPH,MY NEW 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMITED SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY WHEN I ACCELERATED. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD ASAP AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THERE IS LESS THAN 600 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. *
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)