2015 Toyota RAV4

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Toyota RAV4 has 396 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 5.0x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2015 toyota rav4. when the ignition key was inserted into the ignition, an abnormal noise emitted from the vehicle and it failed to start. the failure recurred multiple times. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was. ⚠️ 61 fire reports filed.

61 fire reports 46 crash reports 29 injuries

396

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

5.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

84 complaints

21%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS
• AFTER 10 DAYS OF OWNING THE CAR AND LESS THAN 600 MILES THE CAR WOULDN'T RUN AND WE HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A RODENT. LATER THAT SAME EVENING OUR SALESMAN CALLED AND INFORMED US THAT COMPONENTS IN THE CAR ARE "GREE
• PURCHASED THIS CAR DEALER CERTIFIED AFTER BEING LEASED FOR 9 MONTHS BY SOMEONE ELSE, FROM NEW ROCHELLE TOYOTA. HAD 5700 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. SINCE PURCHASE IT DOES NOT ALWAYS START THE FIRST TIME, SOMETIMES TAKING 3-4 TIMES TO START, AND MAKING STRANGE NOISES, IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS GOIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 26 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

63 complaints

16%

• LOUD BUFFETING WIND NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN ANY REAR WINDOW IS PARTIALLY LOWERED OR OPEN. WILL DIMINISH OR GO AWAY IF EITHER FRONT WINDOW IS OPEN PARTIALLY OR ALL THE WAY. VIBRATING DRONING NOISE IS SO LOUD YOU CAN HEAR NOTHING ELSE. NOISE INCREASES WITH SPEED STARTING AT ABOUT 20 MPH AND UP. DESIG
• I WAS TRYING TO CLOSE THE HATCH WHICH IS TOO HARD TO PULL DOWN FOR A NORMAL PERSON AND I GOT IT ABOUT A FOOT TO BE ABLE TO CLOSE IT AND MY HAND SLIPPED OFF THE GATE AND THE GATE FLEW BACK UP AND KNOCKED MY LEFT EAR, HEAD AND GLASSES SO HARD IT CUT MY EAR AND HEAD AND MY EAR WAS SWOLLEN AND BRUISED I
• YESTERDAY, WHILE I WAS PARKED AT A SECURE LOCATION THE BACK GLASS OF MY 2015 TOYOTA RAV4 BROKE UNEXPECTEDLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE APPEARED TO BE NO POINT OF IMPACT AND THE GLASS APPEARED TO HAVE EXPLODED OUTWARDS. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE CAR THAT WENT THROUGH THE WINDOW AND THERE WAS NOTHIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 12 fire reports💥 6 crashes

“LOUD BUFFETING WIND NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN ANY REAR WINDOW IS PARTIALLY LOWERED OR OPEN. WILL DIMINISH OR GO AWAY IF EITHER FRONT WINDOW IS OPEN PARTIALLY OR ALL THE WAY. VIBRATING DRONING NOISE IS SO LOUD YOU CAN HEAR NOTHING ELSE. NOISE INCREASES WITH SPEED STARTING AT ABOUT 20 MPH AND UP. DESIG”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

44 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING) AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.. WHEN THE P
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV . THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15VI44000 (STEERING) WAS RECEIVED IN MARCH OF 2015. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHIC
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING) AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.. WHEN THE P”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

37 complaints

• DRIVING ON SLIGHT GRADE AT APPROX. 55 MPH. ATTEMPTED TO PASS CAR IN FRONT OF ME. CHECKED LEFT LANE, SEMI ABOUT 50-75 YARDS BACK. PRESSED DOWN GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL. MEANWHILE SEMI IS APPROACHING. PUMPED PEDAL A FEW TIMES NOTHING SEMI HAS TO SLOW DOWN BEC
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT
• THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN PHILADELPHIA AT A LOW SPEED WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE QUICKLY WAS OUT OF CONTROL AND DESTROYED MOST OF THE CAR, INCLUDING THE ENGINE, DASHBOARD, FRONT SEATS, WINDSHIELD, WINDOWS, FRONT TIRES WHICH EXPLODED, AND AIRBAGS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 18 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“DRIVING ON SLIGHT GRADE AT APPROX. 55 MPH. ATTEMPTED TO PASS CAR IN FRONT OF ME. CHECKED LEFT LANE, SEMI ABOUT 50-75 YARDS BACK. PRESSED DOWN GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL. MEANWHILE SEMI IS APPROACHING. PUMPED PEDAL A FEW TIMES NOTHING SEMI HAS TO SLOW DOWN BEC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

31 complaints

• I USED TO HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS RAV 4 LIMITED. SOMETIMES WHEN I PARK, I FORGET TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK (I NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN WITH MY HIGHLANDER) AND THEN TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. MY HIGHLANDER DID NOT DO THIS. TODAY MY CAR STARTE
• I PURCHASE THE RAV4 IN OCTOBER 2015, AND THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE I STARTED TO EXPERIENCE A CRUNCHING SOUND COMING FROM MY BRAKES AND A FLUCTUATION ISSUE WHERE THE BRAKES DO NOT ALWAYS CATCH CAUSING A SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALER AND TOYOTA ARE REFUSING ON TWO OCCASIONS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE REVVED. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 12 crashes

“I USED TO HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER LIMITED AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS RAV 4 LIMITED. SOMETIMES WHEN I PARK, I FORGET TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK (I NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN WITH MY HIGHLANDER) AND THEN TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. MY HIGHLANDER DID NOT DO THIS. TODAY MY CAR STARTE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 396 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. WHEN THE IGNITION KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: LOUD BUFFETING WIND NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN ANY REAR WINDOW IS PARTIALLY LOWERED OR OPEN. WILL DIMINISH OR GO AWAY IF EITHER FRONT WINDOW IS OPEN PARTIALLY OR ALL THE WAY. VIBRATING DRONING NOISE IS SO LOUD YOU CAN HEAR NOTHING ELSE. NOISE INCREASES WITH SPEED STARTING AT ABOUT 20 MPH AND UP. DESIG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V144000 (STEERING) AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.. WHEN THE P
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: DRIVING ON SLIGHT GRADE AT APPROX. 55 MPH. ATTEMPTED TO PASS CAR IN FRONT OF ME. CHECKED LEFT LANE, SEMI ABOUT 50-75 YARDS BACK. PRESSED DOWN GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING. IT WAS LIKE THE CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL. MEANWHILE SEMI IS APPROACHING. PUMPED PEDAL A FEW TIMES NOTHING SEMI HAS TO SLOW DOWN BEC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)