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Direct rivals · Direct rivals in the compact suv segment

2023 Hyundai Tucson vs 2023 Toyota RAV4

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-06-14 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2023 Hyundai Tucson and 2023 Toyota RAV4 are nearly tied on reliability data

Two direct rivals running close on the data. Reliability scores are within rounding distance (3.9 versus 3.7), and both have similar complaint patterns. At this margin, choose based on what specifically matters to your use case rather than overall scoring.

2023 Hyundai Tucson

3.9/5
Reliability score
117 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$10,300 repair exposure
vs

2023 Toyota RAV4

3.7/5
Reliability score
134 complaints
1 recalls (0 critical)
$9,100 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

Direct rivals running close enough that you'd be fine either way. Reliability scores within rounding distance (3.9 for the 2023 Hyundai Tucson, 3.7 for the 2023 Toyota RAV4). When two vehicles in the same segment land this close, the data alone won't pick a winner.

If you lean 2023 Hyundai Tucson, know what you're getting into on powertrain and brakes. Those categories have noticeably more complaints than the 2023 Toyota RAV4 sees, and they're not cheap items when they go.

Going with the 2023 Toyota RAV4? Watch the electrical and steering. The 2023 Hyundai Tucson has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Side-by-side by problem area

Category
2023 Hyundai Tucson
2023 Toyota RAV4
electrical
19 reports
severe · ~$850
24 reports
severe · ~$850
steering
6 reports
severe · ~$700
25 reports
severe · ~$700
powertrain
12 reports
severe · ~$2,500
8 reports
severe · ~$2,500
brakes
13 reports
severe · ~$450
4 reports
severe · ~$450
cruise control
8 reports
severe · ~$600
4 reports
severe · ~$600
body
3 reports
moderate · ~$1,500
7 reports
severe · ~$1,500
engine
8 reports
moderate · ~$3,100
No reports
visibility
No reports
5 reports
moderate · ~$350
lighting
4 reports
moderate · ~$250
No reports
airbags
No reports
4 reports
severe · ~$1,100

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2023 Hyundai Tucson or the 2023 Toyota RAV4?

It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (3.9 vs 3.7). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.

What goes wrong more often on the 2023 Hyundai Tucson?

Compared to the 2023 Toyota RAV4, the 2023 Hyundai Tucson sees more reported issues in powertrain and brakes. That doesn't mean it's a bad truck — it means those are the categories worth budgeting for if you go that direction.

What goes wrong more often on the 2023 Toyota RAV4?

Compared to the 2023 Hyundai Tucson, the 2023 Toyota RAV4 has more complaints in electrical and steering. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.

Which has more recalls?

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 has more active recalls (1 vs 0). Total count is less important than severity, though — a vehicle with one critical recall and zero moderate ones is generally riskier than one with five moderate recalls.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $10,300 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. Verify each vehicle's federal record: 2023 Hyundai Tucson on NHTSA · 2023 Toyota RAV4 on NHTSA. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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