Some 2019 – 2025 model year RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a squeal/squeak noise from the front brakes with light to moderate braking.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Toyota RAV4 brakes problems
moderate Owners of the 2019 Toyota RAV4 have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 RAV4 | 16 |
| 2016 RAV4 | 33 |
| 2017 RAV4 | 27 |
| 2018 RAV4 | 18 |
| 2019 RAV4 (this page) | 20 |
| 2020 RAV4 | 10 |
| 2021 RAV4 | 12 |
| 2022 RAV4 | 5 |
| 2023 RAV4 | 4 |
1crash
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes 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.
TSB: Some 2018 ? 2024 model year Toyota vehicles equipped with an A25A-FKS, A25A-FXS, M20A-FKS, or M20A-FXS engine may exhibit one or more of the following conditions: ?Milky/discolored engine oil. ?An ?Oil Pressure Low? warning message on the Multi-information Display (MID). ?A MIL ON condition with Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P05202A (Engine Oil Pressure Sensor/Switch ?A? Signal Stuck in Range) and/or P052477 (Engine Oil Pressure Too Low [Severe]) present. Moisture from blow-by gases condenses and accumulates in the engine oil during short trips in extreme cold weather. When the moisture in the oil freezes, the oil pressure may drop, and the aforementioned warning indicators may displa
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TSB: Some 2014 ? 2020 model year Toyota vehicles may exhibit a hard start and/or MIL ON condition with one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): ?DTC P0171 and/or P0174 (System Too Lean Bank 1/Bank 2) ?DTC P0087 Fuel Rail / System Pressure ? Too Low Techstream data list analysis may reveal positive fuel trims including a no pressure condition verified by a manual fuel pressure gauge. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address these conditions.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The settlement includes Toyota?s agreement to provide a Customer Support Program for certain 2014-2020 model year (MY) vehicles originally equipped with low pressure fuel pumps repaired under Safety Recall 20TA02, Safety Recall 21TA03, Safety Recall 21TA05 or Special Service Campaign 21TC03. The purpose of this Customer Support Program letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with the settlement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was approved by the federal court. The settlement includes Toyota?s agreement to provide a Customer Support Program for certain 2015-2020 model year (MY) vehicles that were not previously involved in a Safety Recall or Special Service Campaign related to the low pressure fuel pump. The purpose of this Customer Support Program letter is to help clarify how to administer this coverage in accordance with the settlement.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2019 RAV4s report brake problems spanning multiple systems. Electronic parking brakes have failed to disengage after the vehicle sits parked, with no warning lights and sudden release only after repeated gear shifts. Front brake squealing and squeaking at low speeds—particularly below 5 mph—plague several vehicles shortly after purchase or immediately following recall service; dealers inconsistently reproduce the noise and blame cold weather or moisture rather than repair.
Caliper failures with holes causing brake fluid leaks have left owners with extended stopping distances and degraded braking response, sometimes persisting even after one caliper replacement. Brake booster pump defects, tied to recall 19V544000 for early-2019 production, reportedly continue appearing in August 2019 vehicles outside the recall window; one owner experienced brake failure in 2024 that damaged the vehicle and garage. Warped rotors, rotor scratching noises that dealers cannot reproduce, air in piston boots, and metal-to-metal contact from excessive pedal travel round out the complaints. Accidental emergency brake activation due to switch placement has caused tire damage.
Same Toyota RAV4 brakes reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Parking Brake Malfunction
Parking brake fails to disengage after vehicle sits for several days. No warning lights or error messages displayed. Brake shows no audible actuator engagement and manual cycling has no effect until sudden release occurs.
When: 2,400 miles; after sitting parked in garage for a few days
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle immobile in drive despite light throttle application; Resistance from rear wheels; Parking brake light indicator does not illuminate; No audible parking brake actuator functioning; Sudden loud clunk then brake release; No warning lights or error messages displayed
Repairs/costs cited: Issue resolved temporarily by shifting between drive and reverse multiple times until sudden release occurred. Dealer recommended waiting for recurrence before service.
Front Brake Squeal/Squeak at Low Speed
Loud whistling or squeaking noise from front brakes when applying brakes at speeds of 5 mph or below. Occurs after brake recall service performed. Multiple dealer service attempts; technicians could not reproduce or agree on cause despite owner hearing noise consistently.
When: Under 4,000 miles; immediately after brake recall service on Dec 8, 2020
Symptoms owners cite: Loud whistle or squeak from front brakes at speeds ≤5 mph; Noise persists after leaving dealership; Noise audible during test drive with technician at arrival; Noise absent on second technician's test drive (not reproduced)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer claims cold weather or moisture cause and refuses repair. No parts replaced.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Brake recall service performed Dec 8, 2020 (recall 19V544000)
Brake Booster Pump Failure
Faulty brake assist booster pump leading to brake failure. Recall 19V544000 issued for 2019 RAV4 Hybrid vehicles manufactured 4/26/2019–6/3/2019, but owner reports vehicle manufactured August 2019 experienced brake failure in December 2024. Owner also reports vehicle equipped with auto-braking sensors that failed to engage.
When: Manufactured August 2019; brake failure occurred 12/19/2024 (over 5 years later)
Symptoms owners cite: Brake failure event; Auto-brake sensors did not engage when self-braking applied; Vehicle damage and garage damage resulting from failure
Repairs/costs cited: Damage resulted from brake failure. Owner currently dealing with insurance and Toyota; no appraisal costs yet.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 19V544000 issued 7/24/2019 for manufacturing period 4/26/2019–6/3/2019; owners notified 9/20/2019. Owner believes recall should extend to August 2019 manufacture date.
Front Brake Caliper Failure with Fluid Leakage
Both front brake calipers develop holes causing brake fluid to leak and significantly degraded braking performance. Issues persist even after replacement of driver side caliper; passenger side replacement still needed. Owner reports using Toyota brand parts and suspects quality issue.
When: Within 2 years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Holes in both front calipers; Brake fluid leak; Extended braking distance; Prolonged stopping time; Issue continues after driver side caliper replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Driver side caliper replaced at significant cost; passenger side caliper still needs replacement. Mechanic used Toyota brand supplies.
Front Brake Scratching Noise
Abnormal scratching noise heard from front of vehicle while driving and during braking. No warning indicators. Taken to two dealers for diagnosis but failure could not be reproduced.
When: 500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal scratching noise from front of vehicle; Noise occurs while driving and when braking; No warning indicators illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired. Failure could not be duplicated at dealer.
Accidental Emergency Brake Activation While Driving
Emergency brake switch positioned too close to gear shift and storage area, allowing owner to accidentally activate brake while driving at highway speed. Owner applied brakes at 65 mph, burning rubber off tires.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Emergency brake activated while driving at 65 mph; Burned rubber off tires; Required tire replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement required.
Brake Assist Booster Pump Issue (Plastic Brush Holder Misshapen)
Faulty brake assist booster with misshapen plastic brush holder causing deactivation of vehicle stability control system. Complaint filed before vehicle was even delivered from port.
When: New vehicle; discovered before delivery from Newark, NJ port (since July 3, 2019)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle Stability Control system deactivated
Repairs/costs cited: Issue discovered via recall research prior to delivery.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Issue identified as known recall (19V544000)
Brake Rotor Warping with Brake Assist Degradation
Rotors warped requiring replacement. After rotor replacement, brake assist system degraded with delayed braking response, particularly noticeable during sudden braking situations.
When: Within months of May purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Warped rotors; Delayed brake assist after rotor replacement; Diminished braking response during sudden braking scenarios
Repairs/costs cited: Rotors replaced but brake assist issue remains under inspection.
Air in Brake Piston Boot
Air discovered in brake piston boot during inspection, creating a safety hazard for commercial vehicle transport operations. Screeching and popping noise prompted inspection.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Air in brake piston boot; Screeching and popping noise from brakes; No warning lights on dash
Repairs/costs cited: Identified during brake inspection.
Brake Squeal at Low Mileage
Persistent squealing sound from brakes when pedal depressed. Squealing more pronounced at first morning braking and typically subsides after 5–10 minutes of driving. Braking ability not diminished.
When: 5,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Squealing sound from brakes when pedal depressed; More pronounced on first morning braking; Persists for approximately 5–10 minutes then disappears; Braking ability not diminished
Red Brake Light Malfunction
Red brake warning light illuminates without pedal pressure in both city and highway driving. Brake pedal produces loud noise when pushed and travels very low with metal-to-metal contact.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Red brake light illuminates without depressing brake pedal; Occurs on city streets and highways; Loud noise when brake pedal pushed; Brake pedal travels very low with metal-to-metal contact
Extended Brake Stopping Distance
Owner reports low brake pressure resulting in excessive stopping distance. Owner correlates this with fuel tank not filling completely.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Low brake pressure; Extended stopping distance; Takes too much space to stop
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2019 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 brakes problem on the 2019 Toyota RAV4?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 20 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $450 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 20 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 5,483 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes 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 brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes 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/2019/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.