Assist problems of the 2021 Toyota RAV4

Eight problems related to assist have been reported for the 2021 Toyota RAV4. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 based on all problems reported for the 2021 RAV4.

1 Assist problem

Failure Date: 10/17/2025

I was involved in an accident on the interstate traveling at about 80 mph and I hit a guard rail. I swerved, and then the lane assistance kicked in and made me lose control of the car completely, which is how I slammed into the guard rail. In that process, none of the airbags deployed and I had a passenger in the car.

2 Assist problem

Failure Date: 02/14/2024

On February 14, 2024, I was driving to pick up a friend who needed a ride to an appointment. I had the lane correction feature on while I was driving on the interstate. When I exited the interstate, I traveled on a two-lane road that becomes narrow as it travels along a downhill slope. This road has a steep ravine on the right side of the road caused by rainwater runoff. There are reflector signs cemented into the road along the steep drop off. Because there was no oncoming traffic, I crossed the center line avoiding getting too close to the edge. When I did so, the lane correction feature activated, pulling the car hard into the signs along the road. As a result, the entire right side of the car received extensive damage. I was fortunate not to have lost control of the vehicle and gone through the signs into the ditch. My first reaction was to think that I had lost a wheel or had a tire blow out for the car to have jerked so hard to the right. When I stopped, I saw that this was not the case. I have since read that there have been many instances where the auto lane correction has caused other accidents like mine, some of which have been more severe. It is unfortunate that I have the inconvenience of getting the damages fixed and an accident being reflected in my insurance as a result. However, I feel fortunate that I was driving the car and not one of my children who may have lost control. I am glad the signs were securely installed to keep me from rolling into the ditch. I feel most blessed that nobody was injured. What if I had swerved to avoid a person walking on the road instead of the signs posted there? there was not a police report taken on this accident. It was reported to the dealer and insurance company who referred me to caliber collision for repairs where it is currently. There were no warning lights prior to the incident.

3 Assist problem

Failure Date: 05/31/2023

While waiting at a red light with my car stationary, the lane I occupied divided into two. I gently adjusted my steering wheel to the left, and in an unexpected turn of events, a dashboard indicator illuminated before my steering wheel rapidly veered to the right. This abrupt motion resulted in a collision with another vehicle, causing damage to both cars. Despite my attempts to avert the situation, my right thumb became trapped in the wheel, leading to a fracture. Shortly after the accident, the dashboard and multimedia system displayed multiple malfunctions: a vsc, trac, or hill start assist control system malfunction, a rear cross traffic alert malfunction, lta malfunction, and a pksb malfunction, all prompting a visit to the dealer. Upon contacting Toyota, they offered no assistance, asserting that the incident occurred at an approximate speed of 22 miles per hour due to data from the edr. However, this contradicted the facts as my vehicle was stationary at a red light. The explanations provided by Toyota's representative, alexis turner, appeared inconsistent with the circumstances.

4 Assist problem

Failure Date: 05/19/2022

I have reported this issue to brunswick Toyota service advisors twice. The lane keep assist will pull and yank all over the lane. This is an SUV and it is a very scary experience feeling a taller vehicle make quick adjustments and almost feel as if the steering wheel is going to be yanked out of your hands. This will happen at all speeds cruise control and lane keep are active. Both times the service advisors advised me that I should just turn it off because that is what most people do. I did not buy a car with this feature to turn it off. The 2nd time I was advised I would be contacted by someone to schedule an appointment to have it looked at, no one ever contacted me. There are multiple reports of other people experiencing the same sharp adjustments and unable to keep in it's lane and this needs to be investigated. Thank you.

5 Assist problem

Failure Date: 10/04/2021

We bought our new 2021 Toyota Rav4 hybrid on sept. 1, 2021, but didn't drive it on a highway until oct. 4, 2021. On that day, I was driving on interstate hwy 70. I entered that highway near copper mountain, CO and was driving east to return to denver. It is a big highway with wide, well marked lanes. I set my cruise control speed to 63 mph. Almost immediately, I noticed that the lane centering steering adjustment system seemed to be taking the car from close to the left lane line to close to the right lane line, and back and forth. A couple of times, it even drifted to or over the lane line and triggered the land departure alert alarm. At first, I tried to overcome the automated lane centering adjustment by manually steering against it, but the swaying back and forth across the lane became increasingly wide and violent. I was unable to control it. It was terrifying. For a moment, I was sure that I would crash. I don’t know if I hit the brake pedal, but I did quickly press the cancel button on the cruise control, and that ended the swaying back and forth. The whole experience lasted probably less than one minute, and at no time did I notice any alarms or warning signals. I took the car to my dealership and asked them to check the functioning and settings of the cruise control and lane tracing assist functions. They told me that my settings were normal and that everything was working properly. I informed Toyota customer service about the problem and told them of my near crash. They consulted with my dealership's service department and repeated that everything was working properly. Neither the dealer nor Toyota customer service offered any explanation of reasons for my near crash. I have continued to drive the car, but I have tried to disable all the "safety" features that allow the car to take control of my steering. I am afraid to try to reproduce the problem myself, and I am quite sure that my dealer did not attempt to do that either.

6 Assist problem

Failure Date: 06/30/2021

New 2021toyota rave4 vehicle would take over steering and turn left or right from the center of the lane. This issue would consistently steer you to a road shoulder or into another lane. A less experienced driver would have crashed. The steering pull is so significant that one is unable to take a drink or turn on the radio without the possibility of an accident. The last incident steered me into the path of a cement truck nearly causing an accident. Had I not been extra cautious, an accident would have occurred. The "vehicle is operating as designed" and "some customers are overly sensitive to the safety features" was the conclusion of vancouver wa Toyota service and advised to return the vehicle when an incident reoccurs. I insisted the next incident could kill someone. Service spoke to someone and apologized that in fact a past tech bulletin (2019-2021) was released by Toyota addressing this issue. Service obtained a video from the vehicle and confirmed my complaint that the steering had indeed hijacked the vehicle and steered into the path of a cement truck. My concern of serious bodily injury or death is substantiated and documented by vancouver wa Toyota and Toyota corporation. Respectfully leonard yee 9165243335 leonardyee@att. Net.

7 Assist problem

Failure Date: 02/28/2021

Vehicle battery completely dead after only 3 days of not being driven. Vehicle would not start and could not be jump started. Vehicle is only 2 months old. Wireless charging does not charge consistently. Intermittent connection only and gets very hot. Usb phone connection randomly disconnects and reconnects. Occasionally the voice command prompt on center control is activated and stays connected when connecting a phone through usb and cannot exit to see information display. Remote start from fob will not work. Lane departure system too sensitive and takes over steering of car causing countersteering from driver control.

8 Assist problem

Failure Date: 01/21/2021

This vehicle has intermittent operation of its lane keep assistance. One activated, it regularly will do the opposite of keeping your lane. It has run me off the road and also into the lane of oncoming traffic. I have reported to the dealer but they couldn't replicate it. I have escalated to the dealer as this happens very frequently and is in safe. Upon activation of the lta, it turns the steering wheel approx 15- 20 degrees and immediately takes you out of the lane. The lane departure system kicks in and then tries to bring you back and this goes on and on with clearly marked lanes. If I didn't apply quite a bit of force to prevent the departure I could have well been an incident. The vehicle was in motion, going down a well marked interstate highway, night and day time, no rain or snow/ice. The vehicle recognized the lane departure (beeps) but it was the vehicles system that drove the car out of the lane (with my hands on the wheel of course). A video can be shared upon request.


Other Lane Departure related problems of the 2021 Toyota RAV4



RAV4 Service Bulletins
RAV4 Safety Recalls
RAV4 Defect Investigations