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ProblemsByVin Index / 2021-TOYOTA-RAV4 / COMPLAINTS
Full complaint record · NHTSA

2021 Toyota RAV4 owner complaints

372 complaints filed with NHTSA on this vehicle , including 1 reporting a crash, fire, injury, or fatality. Showing the 300 most recent — grouped by category for scanning.

airbags 7 complaints shown

121 total in this category · severe · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags cluster analysis →
12/28/2024 ODI #11632872.0

I have had a critical Passenger Airbag recall for over one year impacting my 2021 RAV4 Auto, NHTSA Recall No. 23V-865; Toyota Recall No. 23TA15. It should NOT have taken Toyota over one-year to diagnose and apply the remedy to ensure that I am driving a safe car. I was promised by Toyota that a Remedy would be made available in February 2024, June 2024, and Sept, 2024. The Website even indicates that the remedy would be available in the 3rd Quarter of 2024. Toyota has the parts to manufacture and sell new cars, but my recall apparently is Not a priority on anyone's profit list since I had paid my money to purchase the car. I have a need to drive my car at home to drop-off my son at school and drive to doctor's appointments, Yet, I was told I should not drive the car nor let anyone ride i

12/20/2024 ODI #11631733.0

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

12/19/2024 ODI #11631679.0

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); 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 dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

12/16/2025 ODI #11705359.0

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for additional information. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

12/11/2024 ODI #11630064.0

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); 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 dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the remedy was not available till June 2025. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

12/09/2025 ODI #11703953.0

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted several times. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat had not been used since the recall notification was received. The contact had not experienced a failure.

12/08/2024 ODI #11629508.0

Toyota said a remedy for the recall would be available Q3 2024. It is now December and nothing has been done. The passenger seat has been without a functional airbag all year and continues to be unsafe.

other 3 complaints shown

12/18/2021 ODI #11444257.0

I was driving down an open road when I suddenly heard a loud rattling noise and a huge explosion. Luckily, there wasn’t any cars around us and we weren’t going very fast. As you can imagine this was very shocking and distracting and I was eventually able to pull over to the side of the road to investigate what had happened. I had my 9 month pregnant sister as well as my 4 month infant in the car. What we found was the sunroof of my car had exploding upwards and there were shards of glass everywhere. We had been experiencing extreme weather conditions the past few days and had to assume this to be the cause. There was no one around us nor anything above us and my car is kept under a carport. An external force would not cause the sunroof glass to explode upwards, it would be the exact opposi

12/13/2021 ODI #11443668.0

I found the moonroof of my 15-day old 2021 Toyota RAV4 spontaneously exploded while sitting parked in my driveway. As the shade that covers the moonroof was open, I incurred minor abrasions from not realizing that the "s**t on my console" was not dust or fuzz, but tiny shards of broken glass that I had already swiped with my hand. There is a large, jagged hole near center on the rear section of glass and the entire moonroof is shattered. Strangely, the glass around the hole is bowed outward as if something was shot through from the inside of the vehicle. Thankfully I was not driving & did not have my kids in the car with me when it happened because there would have been definite safety issues for me, my passengers, and any others out on the road with me. The car was last used about 6:30pm

12/08/2021 ODI #11443157.0

Water is leaking into the cabin from around the roof rails, this could lead to water getting into the side airbag system and causing a failure in the airbag system.

visibility 2 complaints shown

21 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $350 · see visibility cluster analysis →
12/24/2024 ODI #11632244.0

Without any warning and without anyone touching the car my back windshield exploded out. This flung pieces of glass inches from my toddler as we were about to get in the car. I have a remote car starter (for 4 years on this car) and had started it a few minutes before walking to my car to put my stuff down, I opened the passenger door, put my bags on the seat and closed the door. I then turned around to help my toddler into the car and it suddenly exploded inches from us

12/21/2023 ODI #11561358.0

I was driving on the highway there was no cars in front or next to me, it was warm outside about noon the sun was out and I heard a loud bang and a minute later another loud bang, I thought it was a balloon that popped that was in my car and I pulled over and when I saw none of the balloons had popped I thought it was a soda can that exploded in the trunk but I saw they were all intact. When I got home, that is when I noticed the sunroof shattered and it was tented up. Toyota wouldn't honor the warranty, it took 4 days for the dealership to try to find blame on me.

electrical 2 complaints shown

37 total in this category · severe · avg repair $850 · see electrical cluster analysis →
12/17/2021 ODI #11444083.0

To whom this may concern, I have had many problems with the Toyota Rav-4. I had so many problems with my 2017 Rav 4, that I under pressure upgraded to the 2021 LE version. I have had many problems with the breaks. I have brought it in (3) times to be serviced since I purchased it in March of 2021. The breaks are still squeaking. I have also had problems with the electrical system. The dash panel comes on, and abruptly shuts down when it feels like it. My wipers also come on intermittently. Every time I try and talk to Toyota about this they tell me there is nothing wrong. This same thing happens with the 2017, until my breaking mechanism stopped. I am looking for someone to look into this matter because these are dangerous conditions and unacceptable especially for new cars.

12/14/2022 ODI #11497430.0

Since I bought my brand-new car 1. the engine has stopped 5 times. 2. My windshield cracked. 3. There is low tire air pressure indicator that appears once in a while. A new battery was replaced, and it now cannot start. The message on the screen indicates: "IGNITION ON, Voltage abnormality steering power Low. Visit your Dealer." I took it the Dealer and now they are not able to find out what the problem is because I had to jam started the car for it to be towed.

steering 2 complaints shown

20 total in this category · severe · avg repair $700 · see steering cluster analysis →
12/08/2025 ODI #11703844.0

While driving at highway speeds (approx. 65 MPH), the vehicle suffered a sudden and catastrophic loss of motive power. The "Hybrid System Malfunction" warning illuminated, followed immediately by a "Check Engine" light. The vehicle entered a fail-safe mode, then completely shut down. The steering wheel locked, making it extremely difficult to maneuver the vehicle to the shoulder in a dark, remote area with freezing temperatures. This presented an immediate life-safety risk to all occupants. Following the incident, the vehicle was presented to two separate authorized Toyota dealerships in the US for emergency assistance. Both failed to provide the standard of care required for a high-voltage safety failure. The first dealer refused to perform even a basic safety inspection or intake the v

12/04/2024 ODI #11628916.0

Just a little over 33k miles, regular maintenance wit dealer, after the power steering light flashes on then goes off after auto stop of motor when stopping and stop at long intervals sometime see a battery charging at same time. Fluid is great no noise. I see a recall but not on this vin. However I’m reading on line several of these are having the same issue, the car is too new..

brakes 1 complaint shown

12 total in this category · severe · avg repair $450 · see brakes cluster analysis →
12/20/2022 33,047 mi Crash ODI #11498272.0

The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated while approaching a traffic light, she depressed the brake pedal but failed to stop the vehicle and rear-ended another vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. No air bags deployed. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The contact stated a police officer was at the site but no police report was filed. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 33,047.

tires 1 complaint shown

7 total in this category · moderate · avg repair $150 · see tires cluster analysis →
12/13/2024 ODI #11630535.0

Thread came off the rim of tire, the car only has 36,000 miles on it. Tire Size P 225/65R17

powertrain 1 complaint shown

16 total in this category · severe · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain cluster analysis →
12/09/2020 ODI #11382724.0

My spouse was driving the car and she complained to me that our new 2021 rav4 suddenly lurches when slightly accelerating from a rolling stop. I then drove with her and witnessed the same issue although I could not replicate it myself. I took the car to the tustin Toyota dealership (from where I purchased the car) but they were not able to find any issues or replicate the problem. That being said the cars are so new that it may just be that there aren't enough new owners yet to report the problem.

Showing 300 of 372 total complaints. The full federal record is available at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/Toyota/RAV4#complaints.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaint database. Last synced 2026-06-14. Complaints are owner-submitted and unverified — the existence of a complaint is not proof of a defect, but a pattern of complaints around the same component is a signal worth weighing. Verify any specific filing at nhtsa.gov.
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