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ProblemsByVin File / 2011-TOYOTA-RAV4
2011 · toyota

toyota RAV4 problems

4 safety recalls. 286 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

0 5 10
Reliability score
6.4 / 10

Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.

0
Critical
4
Severe
0
Moderate

Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

cruise control
55 reports · avg $600
severe
visibility
31 reports · avg $350
moderate
brakes
25 reports · avg $450
severe
seatbelts
25 reports · avg $500
moderate
powertrain
23 reports · avg $2,500
severe
electrical
19 reports · avg $850
severe
airbags
18 reports · avg $1,100
severe
engine
17 reports · avg $3,100
severe

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2011 RAV4 · airbags Crash
TRAVELING 30 MPH SOUTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE. CAR'S ENGINE SELF ACCELERATED. PUMPED BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. CAR CONTINUED TO SELF-ACCELERATE AND BRAKING WAS INEFFECTUAL AND I RAN INTO BACK OF AN 18 WHEELER FLAT BED TRUCK. *DT
12/31/2018 · NHTSA ODI #11164251.0
2011 RAV4 · cruise control
WHILE BACKING INTO A PARKING SPOT AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE JERKED BACK SEVERAL TIMES NO MATER HOW HARD I APPLIED THE BRAKE I COULD NOT STOP IT. I WAS GOING ABOUT 5 MILES OR LESS PER HR. THE SAME THING HAPPENED LATER THE SAME DAY IN MY DRIVEWAY. TWICE IN ONE DAY ALSO…
12/31/2013 · NHTSA ODI #10557927.0
2011 RAV4 · visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V577000 (VISIBILITY/WIPERS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL…
12/29/2015 · NHTSA ODI #10816750.0
2011 RAV4 · other
TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING A 2011 TOYOTA RAV4 LIMTED V6, THE CAR SHOWED THREE WARNING LIGHTS: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT, AND THE VSC (VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL) LIGHT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. AFTER RUNNING A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIAGNOSTIC, THE…
12/27/2018 · NHTSA ODI #11163618.0

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Active recalls showing 3 of 4

severe NHTSA 13V383000 28/08/2013

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010

Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tie rods and replace any that have rust or corrosion on the alignment adjustment threads. All of the rear tie rods will then be encased in an epoxy to prevent future environmental damage. Due to limitations in parts, the recall remedy will be launched in phases from September 2013 through mid-April 2014. All owners will receive notification of the recall, with most receiving second notifications when parts are available in their area. IMPORTANT: This recall supersedes Toyota and Lexus recall 12V-373. All vehicles that have been inspected and remedied under the previous recall need to be re-inspected and have the appropriate remedy applied.
severe NHTSA 16V596000 12/08/2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 31, 2005, to September 7, 2010, and 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured July 6, 2009, to August 26, 2010

Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will replace both rear suspension arms and encapsulate the locknuts, free of charge. The recall began on September 30, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are G0V for Toyota vehicles and GLK for Lexus vehicles. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-383, in which some vehicles were only inspected, sealed, and did not have both arms replaced. The affected vehicles were previously recalled under 13V-383, but did not have both rear suspension arms replaced at that time. Those vehicles need to have both arms replaced as part of this recall remedy.
severe NHTSA 12V373000 02/08/2012

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2011 RAV4 and 2010 Lexus HS250h passenger vehicles manufactured from October 2005 through September 2010

Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear tie-rod nut for looseness and replace any suspect tie-rod found loose. Dealers will also affix instructions in multiple places to prevent improper servicing in the future. The recall began on November 30, 2012. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
View all 4 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2011 Toyota RAV4 reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.4 out of 10 based on 286 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Toyota RAV4 has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

What's the most common problem on the 2011 Toyota RAV4?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is cruise control, with 55 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $600 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The cruise control is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $600 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Toyota RAV4 has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2011 Toyota RAV4?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 286 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $600, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 10 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with toyota. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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