Electrical System Problems of Toyota RAV4 - part 1

2021 Toyota Rav4 (gas model) has experienced a sudden, unexpected engine stall/shutdown on a public road. The incident occurred while shifting into drive after backing up in reverse. The engine immediately died without any prior dashboard warning lights or mechanical symptoms. The information screen displayed a message stating "put car in park" or "shift into park. " the vehicle safely restarted immediately after shifting back into park and pressing the ignition button. This intermittent stall has happened three times under the exact same directional shifting conditions over the last 1. 5 years, creating a high-risk scenario for a rear-end collision in active traffic. After previous incident (one year ago) when the engine stopped when shifting from reverse to drive, I took it to Toyota service. Dealership diagnostics could not previously replicate the issue due to its intermittent nature and the absence of a permanent check engine code. Checked battery and performed health check.

See all problems of the 2021 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

This vehicle has twice had the same issue where the sunroof drain lines become clogged or dislocated and the water fills the liner in the front driver and passenger seats resulting in flooding in the compartment and mold damage throughout the interior. The mole spore are transmitted throughout the interior. The water damaged the airbags and the electrical harness in the dash of the car resulting in the dashboard electrical system shutting off and restarting spontaneously while driving. The leaks were repairs and the interior replaces in October 2023 and the same incident has recurred in August 2026. The claims adjuster recommends that the entire wiring harness, airbags, and carpets, seats and liners be replaced for health and safety of passengers.

See all problems of the 2017 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Display of Rav4 hybrid is malfunctioning as it randomly turns on and off at frequent intervals, the screen turns on an off in a similar manner, the display controls are not operative even if displayed. This occurred right after the dealer (355 Toyota of rockville, [xxx] ) conducted a recall procedure on a wire harness. Immediately after these repairs, it was noticed that the display started to malfunction. It has never malfunctioned before. I went back to the dealership and the manager said that the display problem was unrelated to the recall maintenance. So I am reporting it here. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2019 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Drove home vehicle under 20,000 miles 2025, got to drove way parked and car stalled shaking amd stated steering power low, and shut off. Tried to re start it and did the same thing stalled shook amd shut off with the same warning. No previous issues.

See all problems of the 2025 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

The repair shop I was able to pull into as I was experiencing the issue with my vehicle reported: "battery is unstable and is arcing off of the positive terminal. Battery tray, battery hold down tie, and battery j hook hold down were missing upon arrival. " the issue was fixed by a brakes plus location, given I was able to pull in there - it was around the corner from where I was driving. The issue has been fixed, and I have no issue with inspection of the vehilce. The car died while I was driving on a main street. The recall note states that the vehicle could have caught on fire, though no fire or crash happened. I made a simple right-hand turn and almost every light imaginable illuminated on the dashbard. I was able to turn the vehicle off and on again and get the car to the brakes plus location. This location had to order the parts from kansas. I called the Toyota dealership informing them what had happened, that the car was unable to be moved and got the response that I needed to take it to them for repair. I called at least two times since I received the notice for the fix in the mail and I was told that I would be contacted when they were ready to fix my car specifically. I was informed they would call, but they did not take down my contact information. I reached out to Toyota and they opened a claim where I uploaded documents - the original recall notice, the letter informing of the fix, the invoice from brakes plus, proof of purchase on Friday,xxx, I received a letter notifying me that my claim was not eligible for reimbursement. Since I tried to reach out and get an appointment scheduled inspection and the fix (if needed), and I never received a call to schedule after being told the dealership would reach out to me when they were ready, I believe they should have paid me back for the repair. I can provide the Toyota brand engagement case number as requested. I am hesitant to upload documents here as these documents contain name, address, etc.

See all problems of the 2016 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

The contact owns a 2024 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the headlight system malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction, road sign assist (rsa), and lane tracing assist (lta) warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the vehicle. The contact stated that the remedy for special service campaign: 26tc03, which addressed an incorrect maf sensor reading failure, had been performed two days prior to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired a second time. The manufacturer was informed of the issues. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

See all problems of the 2024 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Description of the defect:I am reporting a premature and dangerous failure of the electronic door lock actuators on my 2023 Toyota Rav4 hybrid se. The issue began with the driver’s door lock intermittently failing to respond to the key fob and the internal master switch. Shortly after, the rear passenger door developed the exact same failure. Both doors can now only be operated strictly by manual intervention. The vehicle currently has over 36,000 miles, meaning this safety-critical component failed immediately after the expiration of the manufacturer's bumper-to-bumper warranty. Safety risk:this component defect poses a severe safety hazard. In the event of a severe crash, electrical failure, or fire, passengers (especially children or occupants in the rear seats) face a high risk of entrapment, as the doors cannot be unlocked electronically for a quick evacuation. Furthermore, because the doors fail to lock automatically while driving, the occupants are left vulnerable to carjacking or external intrusion at intersections, and the doors could potentially be forced open by a child pulling the lever while the vehicle is in motion. This is a well-documented systemic issue across Toyota's 5th generation Rav4 platform, and a safety recall is urgently needed.

See all problems of the 2023 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Door locks not working front doors had actuators replaced after about a year and a half . They have since went out again.

Component: electrical system / telematics (dcm)the vehicle suffers from a documented manufacturing defect involving the data communication module (dcm/telematics system, calibration n01d14b4644). The module enters an infinite transmission loop when the vehicle is turned off, causing a severe parasitic battery drain that repeatedly drops the 12v auxiliary battery below operational voltage. This creates a severe safety hazard, causing total electrical failure and leaving the driver unexpectedly stranded without warning, presenting an immediate safety risk in extreme weather or unsafe locations. An official Toyota techstream diagnostic scan on 07/08/2026 confirmed 7 active dtc faults in the telematics system. Authorized dealerships are refusing to perform the mandatory firmware updates outlined in manufacturer service bulletins (t-sb-0089-21), opting instead to clear error logs temporarily without repairing the underlying defect. The manufacturer has failed to issue a safety recall despite widespread knowledge of this safety defect.

See all problems of the 2022 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at 46 mph in heavy rain, a warning message indicating that the pre-collision sensor was blocked and needed to be cleared, was displayed temporarily, and the contact continued driving. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly lost motive power shortly after, and the message "steering power is low; please contact dealer" was displayed. The vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The following day, the contact's husband successfully restarted the vehicle, but the vehicle immediately stalled again, displaying a "pre-collision malfunction; please call dealer" message. A local dealer was contacted, and the contact spoke with a receptionist regarding the battery, but the vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had not been made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,829.

Odometer shows incorrect speed than actual.

Vehicle trunk fails to respond and doesn’t open. Inside button and trunk button do not work all of the time. Safety issue when having animals crated in back.

Vehicle was traveling straight approximately 70–80 mph in very light drizzle. No warning lights or messages before the event. Vehicle suddenly entered an uncontrolled spin multiple times. During the spin, I heard a grinding noise. After stopping, brake/parking brake system warnings appeared on the dash, video after the event recorded.

The automatic locking system stopped working for 2 of my doors. Front passenger and back driver sides no longer lock or unlock. This poses a serious risk considering I live near the ghetto and my car has already been broken into.

The contact owns a 2015 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the radio was inoperable. The contact stated that the gauges failed to properly operate. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle lost power steering functionality. Additionally, the rearview camera image was reversed before becoming inoperable. The abs, awd, and engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and an undisclosed fuse was replaced. The mechanic made the contact aware of NHTSA campaign number: 15v144000 (steering). The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and scheduled an appointment with the dealer for the recall repair of NHTSA campaign number: 23v734000 (electrical system). The failure mileage was approximately 189,000.

See all problems of the 2015 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

After driving for approximately 30-minutes in a heavy rain I pulled over and the automatic engine shutoff feature activated while I was waiting to go inside for an appointment. When attempting to restart the car, the engine would start but then shut off showing a "low power steering" warning message on my dash. The problem persisted for approximately 15-20 minutes. Eventually after about 10 attempts to restart the engine, the car started back up and drove fine the rest of the day. I have heard of this happening to many other Rav4s on the autosafety. Org website and it causes me concern, especially if this problems causes the car to stall in high speed traffic in the rain. It is my understanding that this maybe a problem with the mass airflow sensor getting wet in heavy rainfall.

Before o had taken my Rav4 into Toyota for the recall a aaa tech. Had replaced the battery after jump starting it. There was nothing wrong with the sensors or anything else but after the battery was replaced all the electric sensors that are for lane change warnings and cruise control etc. Stopped working. I took vehicle into Toyota of santa maria and was told that I needed to pay for the sensors that had failed. They told me that I was responsible and I do not believe I am when aaa had just replaced my battery and only after that did the sensors have an issue. I do not feel safe driving my car now because all the sensors aren’t working anymore.

See all problems of the 2018 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

Toyota addresses a front transfer case issue (groan/buzzing noise) on certain 2019–2020 Rav4 awd vehicles (specifically adventure and limited grades) through a voluntary emissions recall / customer support program (no. 20te03) o.

While I am driving my Toyota Rav4, the car will suddenly shut off and I can restart it and keep driving as the month is going on. The incidents are happening more often and now the dashboard is going black. I’ve had a couple of warning signs on the dashboard. I brought the car to Toyota and pep boys. Both of them checked the electrical systems and everything looks good according to their testing.

Intermittent stalling in various conditions including idling, highway driving and city driving.

Unknown - on xxx, at just 7,741 miles, my 2025 Toyota Rav4 xle premium awd (VIN: [xxx]) suffered a catastrophic and life-threatening complete mechanical and hydraulic transmission failure. The vehicle completely lost forward propulsion when placed in drive mode, rendering it entirely immobile. When placed in reverse gear, the transmission violently over-pressurized, causing the vehicle to suddenly surge and jump uncontrollably. Simultaneously, the dashboard displayed 6 critical safety system failures: 1. Check engine — electronic control malfunction 2. Vehicle stability control system (vsc/trac) malfunction 3. Secondary collision brake system malfunction 4. Pre-collision system malfunction 5. Parking brake system malfunction 6. Advanced ultrasonic detecting and ranging system malfunction ourisman Toyota chantilly (ro# xxx) has confirmed complete transmission failure. Fault codes found: p28167f — pressure control solenoid h actuator stuck off, p08ba7f — pressure control solenoid l actuator stuck off. Estimated repair cost: $11,347. 42. While this failure fortunately occurred on a local road, had it occurred while merging onto I-66 or I-95 at highway speeds, it would have inevitably caused a catastrophic high-speed collision. This represents an extreme manufacturing defect and life-threatening safety hazard. Toyota corporate cases opened: #xxx (original case) and #xxx (full replacement request). I am requesting full vehicle replacement. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Door locks failed to lock or unlock via the key fob, intermittent problem.

My car has shut off for a second time without warning. This time was in a busy chic [xxx] drive through line in [xxx] . The car read “low power steering” and the battery and engine light came on. These have both been checked before in addition to the alternator and they cannot find an issue. I am having it taken back to the dealership tomorrow for further investigation. Given I purchased this vehicle with a little over 19k miles and the car now only has 22k miles on it. It should not have any significant issues such as cutting off while driving on the interstate or while sitting in a busy drive through lane waiting for food. Now I am wondering if the previous owner traded it in for this issue. I will say, both incidences it has been raining and the first time I could have been hit by oncoming traffic due to low visibility and I am wondering if heavy rain has something to do with this. The car has not been through any significant puddles or left out in the rain. It sits in the garage when not in use and has only been used as a work commute vehicle. Something is wrong. They need a recall! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The video display screen shuts off while driving. You end of trying to get it going again while driving and getting distracted. Ongoing issue over a dozen times in last 2 years.

The front camera is known to overheat in weather that exceeds 70°f. Which disables the aeb, cruise control, lane keep, automatic headlights, and automatic wipers.

Our 3 yrs old + Toyota Rav4 hybrid SUV with barely over 30,000 miles on it had 2 safety issues within 2 months of each other! first was the driver's side mirror- it was rattling, feeling like it might fall off! seems common issue, perhaps due to cheap plastic parts inside. We had it fixed- Toyota brand engagement center gave a 'goodwill' gesture to cover us replacing it at dealership, though it should never have happened on such a newer vehicle in the first place! then not even 2 months later, a warning flashed- "pre collision system malfunction!" also "headlights" with same warning- "see dealer now!" Toyota dealer. They said forward recognition camera had 'internal malfunction' and needed to be replaced. It was going to be quite expensive, but the camera part is not even available in foreseeable future as there's back order for hundreds and they're still in production! it seems this too is a common safety problem~ we can't understand why there's not a recall on this. Toyota took no responsibility for this issue, which is appalling as, like the first 'side driver's side mirror failure' was also a safety issue! the whole reason we bought this vehicle was for its safety features! without the front facing camera that comes with the car in same compartment as rear view mirror resides, we now have no pre-collision warnings, no headlight safety feature, no rsa (road sign assist system). It's infuriating that Toyota, who obviously is making inferior safety products, does not offer to help out in any way. We're both [xxx] and entitled to these safety features as we bought the car both new and paid top dollar! our service advisor at the Toyota dealership agrees this is 'not normal', the car is too young to have this happen! he will attest to this & we have paperwork. It stated 'no immediate remedy'. (replacement camera not available) I believe this is happening to hundreds of other Rav4 owners. It's outrageous! please help! these electronics for safety should not fail! information redacted pursuant to the freedom of infor.

If I don't drive the car for 1 to 2 weeks, the car's 12v is completely drained of power and the care needs to be jumped, otherwise, it will not start. This is consistent. I've taken this to several Toyota dealerships and they all have reported my 12v battery is healthy. However, Toyota is aware and is charging for the fix, labelled as t-sb-0089-21. The known issue is a piece of electronics in the car that continually drains power because it does not properly shut off. This should not be a paid fix. This should be a recall. When the car is jumped and the car finally starts, it reports a message saying something about some safety features not available. The car needs to be moved every 2 weeks due to mandatory city street cleaning so at least once every month the car needs to be jumped if not used the week prior.

See all problems of the 2020 Toyota RAV4 🔎.

The display goes black and then will restart. It foes this over and over. The navigation and other features can’t be used and it will not stay on long enough to try and update.

The contact owns a 2022 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal odor outside the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and became aware that there was smoke coming from the battery, and there was battery fluid leaking from the battery. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with battery failure. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact stated that in may 2026, the vehicle was serviced for electrical issues with the start/stop feature, parking brake error message, and the ac display unit was replaced. The contact stated that other electrical issues occurred intermittently. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 71,800.

Upon taking my 2021 Rav4 hybrid in for the rear traction motor cable corrosion recall (25td01) on 5/7/2026, I was told there are no parts, no estimated arrival time, and therefore not even a rough estimate for a timeframe of repair. I was told that no one would inspect or evaluate the part in question to indicate if the car was safe to drive. I expressed my extreme concern given the recall includes risk of power failure, even while driving. I received inconsistent, avoidant answers and an absolute denial to remedy the situation in any way. I was told the dealership is "dolan" and not "Toyota". I again expressed my concerns about safety and the dealerships' denial to, at minimum inspect the recalled part and/or housing of the part. Emily, the service manager stated that Toyota does not "allow" loaner vehicles for this particular recall. She could not provide any sources for this information. To summarize; the dealer with not provide an inspection of the recalled part and/or housing, or give an estimated timeline for repair given I am #125 on a waitlist. There is a complete lack of regard for mine or my children's safety as the dealer will not provide any assessment of how bad the damage could be. They suggested that I continue to drive the vehicle, acknowledging all of the safety hazards that could occur. I am terrified of the possibility of having an accident with my kids in the car due to this recalled part failing, not having a vehicle to get to and from work, and the potential additional costs that this unaddressed recall issue could cause. Please advise!.

Was in a front driver side t-bone @ 35 miles and hour accident and no airbags deployed.

The Toyota app has stopped updating vehicle data and there’s information missing entirely. The satellite symbol has a line through it on the media screen as well. When I try to opt out on the app, I get an unexpected error and to try again. It seems as though the dcm in my car has stopped communicating with Toyota’s servers.

The rear hatch hinges are undersized causing them to fail and undue stress on the motor.

Gear shift makes noise when moving it, as in you can actually hear the gears/electrical equipment moving and making noise when going from park to drive. The keyless entry when the fob is near, just doesn't work well from the drivers side. . . I can stand there trying to allow it to unlock and it just locks again or wont unlock the passenger door even if allowing it extra time to.

Severe, chronic rainwater intrusion through the vehicle's front cowl and body seams, resulting in catastrophic flooding of the passenger-side cabin floorboards. This issue occurs even when all sunroof drains are completely clear and functional. Toyota has issued technical service bulletin 0055-24 acknowledging body seam and cowl leaks for this vehicle type. The passenger-side floorboard houses critical electrical wire harnesses and sits adjacent to the supplemental restraint system (srs/airbag) control module. Chronic standing water on the floorboard presents an immediate risk of electrical short-circuits, potentially causing sudden vehicle stalling, electrical component fires, or the uncommanded deployment/failure of the vehicle's airbag safety systems. Furthermore, the thick foam insulation beneath the carpet remains saturated, creating an immediate, toxic mold hazard within an enclosed passenger cabin, severely impacting occupant health and air quality. The manufacturer and dealership have left the vehicle unrepaired for over 30 days, refusing to remediate this safety hazard.