21TG01 Exprired - Replaced with Campaign 23TA13 During a recent investigation of reported battery fires in 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles with gasoline engines (excluding hybrid models), Toyota discovered that many non-Toyota retailers and others who sell or install replacement batteries were recommending a small size battery for replacement. Toyota specifies a particular size replacement battery for the RAV4 that does not include this small size. The smaller battery may not fit securely with the RAV4’s battery mounting parts, and, in some cases, can move around when the vehicle is driven, causing a short circuit. Using the wrong size battery, or not installing a replacement battery properly, can c
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Toyota RAV4 electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Toyota RAV4 have filed 75 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 57,000 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
75
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 RAV4 | 19 |
| 2012 RAV4 | 25 |
| 2013 RAV4 | 67 |
| 2014 RAV4 | 61 |
| 2015 RAV4 (this page) | 75 |
| 2016 RAV4 | 50 |
| 2017 RAV4 | 98 |
| 2018 RAV4 | 115 |
| 2019 RAV4 | 87 |
2crashes
25fires
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 75 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Electrical accounts for 25% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Campaign Expired - replaced with campaign 23TA13TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY 21TG01 12-VOLT BATTERY SIZE AND INSTALLATION INSPECTION CERTAIN 2013 – 2018 RAV4
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY 24TE03 Rav4 Battery Class Action Settlement CERTAIN 2013 – 2018 Model Year RAV4
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY 24TE03 Rav4 Battery Class Action Settlement CERTAIN 2013 – 2018 Model Year RAV4
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 RAV4 electrical system is generating high-severity complaints. Owners report sudden, complete loss of electrical power while driving at various speeds—engine shuts off, dashboard goes dark, power steering lost. These power losses happen without warning and may last seconds or 15 minutes; vehicles sometimes restart on their own, sometimes don't. When power returns, ABS, airbag, traction control, and all-wheel-drive warning lights stay on until the ignition is cycled off and back on. Nine documented stalling incidents occurred in one case over 15,000 miles.
Multiple fires have started in the engine compartment, some originating at or near the battery. Vehicles caught fire while parked or shortly after driving, with flames spreading rapidly. One fire destroyed two adjacent vehicles and damaged a carport. No warning lights preceded most fires.
Battery failures are common. Some batteries lose all cranking amps after just 200 miles; others fail under warranty. Toyota issued recall 23V734000 in November 2023 for battery hold-down clamps and tray hardware, but parts remain unavailable over a year later, leaving owners unable to complete the recall.
Additional electrical problems include cruise control malfunctions with cascading failures, starting difficulty requiring 3-4 attempts, instrument panel blanking, and intermittent complete electrical shorts. One owner's transmission went into neutral instead of reverse when the EPS light illuminated, causing the car to roll forward.
Same Toyota RAV4 electrical reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Starter short/electrical short causing starter malfunction
Pre-owned vehicle had defective starter installed before purchase. When new battery was connected after the first battery failed, starter engaged without key in ignition. Dealership diagnosed electrical short in the system and replaced faulty starter to OEM specs.
When: December 2021; second battery failure
Symptoms owners cite: Starter clicked but did not turn over; Instrument lights blinking on and off; Starter engaged without key in ignition after new battery installed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replaced faulty starter and restored starting system to OEM specs; $558.02 total cost
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership mentioned battery recall verification; determined battery sized correctly but short was in electrical system
Cruise control switch malfunction with cascading electrical failures
Cruise control stalk light blinks and distracts at night; cruise control drops out while driving. Dealer replaced cruise control switch, then adjusted brake pedal switch, but problems escalated to complete electrical loss of power while driving, engine stalling, radio/navigation lockup, and multiple warning lights (ABS, airbags, traction control, AWD) staying illuminated. Vehicle has stalled nine times; owner nearly involved in three accidents.
When: Over 5 months; 15,000 miles of driving
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control light blinking; Cruise control drops out; Complete loss of electrical power while driving at highway speeds; Engine shuts off and does not restart for several minutes; Engine shuts off and restarts on its own after seconds to minutes; Dashboard warning lights (ABS, airbags, traction control, AWD) stay on and do not reset until ignition cycled; Radio/navigation screen locks up and requires car restart to reset
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced cruise control switch; adjusted brake pedal switch; vehicle still in shop after multiple visits over 5 months
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner contacted manufacturer multiple times about dealer's failure to repair; vehicle moved to different dealership due to first dealer incompetence
Rodent-caused wiring damage and component failure
Vehicle would not run after 10 days of ownership and under 600 miles. Dealership blamed rodent damage, claiming not under warranty. Owner caught mouse under hood with glue trap; found hair and droppings. Salesman warned components contain soybean-based materials attractive to rodents and advised owner to garage car. Multiple rodent incidents documented with wiring damage.
When: Within 10 days of ownership; under 600 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not run; Mouse and rodent evidence (droppings, hair); Wiring insulation eaten by rodents; Tissues and debris dragged into HVAC vents
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership declined repair under warranty; offered replacement vehicle at cost only
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership and Toyota were contacted; Toyota offered different vehicle at cost and taking loss on current vehicle
Battery failure and early depletion
Second new battery failed in vehicle within roughly 4 years of ownership. Battery depleted cranking amps to zero after only 4 weeks of ownership and 200 miles. Multiple owners report battery failures requiring replacement, with some batteries unable to accept charge.
When: December 2021 (second battery); after 4 weeks and 200 miles (one owner); 46,945 miles (another); approximately 68,000-75,000 miles (others)
Symptoms owners cite: Battery will not accept charge; Battery dead with zero cranking amps; Starter clicked but did not turn over due to dead battery; Vehicle difficult to start, requiring jump starts
Repairs/costs cited: Batteries replaced; one replaced by Walmart under warranty; dealership installed new 80-month Toyota battery
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Battery recall mentioned (23V734000); corrosion found on battery hold-down clamps; recall parts unavailable as of late 2024
Complete electrical power loss while driving with engine stalling
Vehicle loses all electrical power while driving at various speeds (5 MPH to highway speeds). Engine shuts off, power steering lost, dashboard goes dark. Power loss is sporadic and may last from seconds to 15 minutes. Vehicle sometimes restarts on its own; sometimes requires external help. Multiple warning lights illuminate on restart (ABS, AWD, traction control). Behavior repeated six to nine times in some cases.
When: At approximately 9,000 miles; over 6 months of incidents; at 109,643 miles; at 30-55 MPH highway speeds; at 5 MPH in parking lots
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls while driving; Loss of all electrical power; Loss of power steering; Dashboard lights go dark or blink; Vehicle restarts sporadically after seconds to 15 minutes; Warning lights (ABS, AWD, traction control) illuminate and do not reset until ignition cycled; Cruise control light blinks and drops out; Radio/navigation screen locks up
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to replicate failure; no diagnostic codes stored in computer; vehicle looked at seven times with no resolution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted multiple times; manufacturer unable to provide permanent remedy; recall 23V734000 issued but parts unavailable
Battery-caused electrical fires in engine compartment
Multiple vehicles experienced fires originating in or near the battery in the engine compartment. Fires occurred while parked or during/shortly after driving, with no warning lights in most cases (one case had battery light just before smoke). Fires spread rapidly and completely consumed vehicles, with some spreading to adjacent property. Battery cable melted, battery corner burned. Fires started with smoke, followed by flames and sometimes explosions.
When: At 34,000 miles; at 87,000 miles; at 123,000 miles; at unspecified mileage (after 30 minutes driving); parked after short driving period; without warning
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke coming from engine compartment or under hood; Flames emerging from engine compartment; Fire completely consuming vehicle; Battery cable on fire or melted; Battery corner melted; Battery warning light (in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles declared total loss; fires extinguished by fire department; one passerby-assisted extinguishment
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 23V734000 (Electrical System) issued November 2023; fires attributed to battery-induced short circuits; manufacturer did not assist in investigation or resolution; parts for recall unavailable
Water intrusion into electrical system via roof leak
Water leaking from roof hole caused water damage to electrical wiring for airbags. Hole in roof allowed water to enter vehicle. Dealer warned that airbags could deploy unintentionally if not repaired. Roof removal required for proper investigation.
When: At approximately 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Water leaking into vehicle from roof; Water damage to electrical wiring; Risk of unintended airbag deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired; roof removal needed for investigation
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified via letter and phone calls; case closed by manufacturer without resolution
Intermittent starting difficulty with fuel pump relay and electrical noise
Vehicle purchased dealer-certified after lease with 5,700 miles. Does not always start on first try; takes 3-4 attempts with strange noises suggesting potential start but then dies. Fuel pump relay was replaced but issue persists intermittently. Vehicle has been to shop 4 times. Lights flicker and strange noises occur during unsuccessful starting attempts.
When: 5,700 miles at purchase; ongoing through multiple shop visits
Symptoms owners cite: Does not start on first attempt; Takes 3-4 tries to start; Strange noises when attempting to start; Sounds like it's going to start then dies; Lights flicker; Strange noises during unsuccessful starts; No diagnostic codes appear on tech computers
Repairs/costs cited: New fuel pump relay installed on 12/4; starts better but still takes multiple attempts; no root cause found
Instrument panel/dashboard electrical failures with blanking and jerking
Instrument panel goes blank and then illuminates during startup. While driving, vehicle jerks. On one occasion at 45 MPH, instrument panel went blank, radio became inoperable, but functions returned shortly after. Certified mechanic unable to determine cause.
When: At approximately 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Instrument panel goes blank at startup then illuminates; Vehicle jerking while driving; Instrument panel goes blank while driving; Radio becomes inoperable intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Certified mechanic unable to determine cause; vehicle not repaired
Parking/transmission electrical malfunction with EPS light
EPS (Electronic Power Steering) light comes on after putting car in reverse. Transmission does not connect properly and goes into neutral instead of reverse, causing car to roll forward. Occurs on hills and flat areas. Owner must put car in park, turn off, and restart to get transmission to work correctly.
When: Multiple times over couple of months in recent years
Symptoms owners cite: EPS light illuminates after shift into reverse; Transmission shifts to neutral instead of reverse; Vehicle rolls forward unintentionally; Transmission must be reset by turning vehicle off and on
Codes mentioned: EPS light
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota refused to perform work because VIN not under recall
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall status: VIN not under recall
Horn malfunction with intermittent blowing
Horn blows intermittently while driving on interstate and when parked with engine running and door open. Two separate incidents with poor connection to horn theft deterrent and intermittent open circuit in parking alarm harness.
When: 1/4/2016 and 2/26/2019
Symptoms owners cite: Horn blows intermittently while driving; Horn blows intermittently when parked with engine running and door open
Repairs/costs cited: Poor connection to horn theft deterrent security alarm; intermittent open circuit in parking alarm harness
Touchscreen display failure with partial screen failure
Touchscreen on main computer failed to show desired display on lower right side. Failure occurred intermittently at first but became persistent. System updates could not be completed due to failure.
When: At approximately 144,675 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Touchscreen display failure on lower right side; Cannot display desired information on screen; System updates cannot be performed
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired by dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred contact to NHTSA Hotline
Recall parts unavailability (23V734000 Electrical System)
Multiple owners received recall notification 23V734000 (Electrical System) to replace battery hold-down clamp and battery tray hardware. Parts remain unavailable over one year after recall issuance (November 2023). Owners unable to complete recall, with some experiencing battery failures or electrical issues while waiting. Recall extended multiple times with no remedy available.
When: Recall issued November 1, 2023; as of November 2024 parts still unavailable; recall extended through June 2024 then beyond
Symptoms owners cite: Unable to schedule recall repair due to parts unavailability
Repairs/costs cited: Recall 23V734000 requires battery hold-down clamp and tray hardware replacement; parts unavailable; some owners report incorrect battery size installed preventing recall completion
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota recall 23TB13; NHTSA recall 23V734000; parts not yet available over one year after issuance; dealer advised some VINs not eligible if battery size improper
Synthesized from 75 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Radio not updating
Audio stopped working, display keeps rebooting
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota RAV4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not…
The recall for my RAV4 was for the battery, and it may cause a fire. The safety of my family members and other families was affected by this fire. We are all displaced. My mom parked our car under our apartment, and 15 minutes later, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The battery was replaced in 2019, and the rep told us of farmers that they can't confirm that the recall may be the root of…
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The…
The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms…
Had electrical trouble with your 2015 Toyota RAV4?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2015 Toyota RAV4?
It's a meaningful issue. 75 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 34 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 34,000 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 57,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 34,000; a quarter make it past 75,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Toyota/RAV4.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.