Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 14 safety complaints
about the 2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash, 2 people were injured and no death is recorded. No recall campaign has been matched to this year, make and model.
The most complained-about system is the electrical system,
named in 3 complaints, 21% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 9,425 miles,
the median across the 13
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers January 2017 to September 2023 · How this is counted
What is on file
14 complaints on file
14
Complaints
1
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
2
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not
the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production
ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 · 21%
3 21%
SERVICE BRAKES 2 · 14%
2 14%
STRUCTURE 2 · 14%
2 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 · 14%
2 14%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 · 14%
2 14%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 · 14%
2 14%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 · 7%
1 7%
ENGINE 1 · 7%
1 7%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 1 · 7%
1 7%
SEAT BELTS 1 · 7%
1 7%
SEATS 1 · 7%
1 7%
STEERING 1 · 7%
1 7%
048
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 14.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2017 at 6.
8 6 4 2
172017182018192019212021232023
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2017 to 2023.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2017 Toyota RAV4 HYBRID, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
SUV AWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
16.9%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Defect investigations
1 on file
An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A
preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering
analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.
Pedestrian alert sounds
DP22005
Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
the electrical system
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
STRUCTURE:BODY
1 injured · crash · towed · 3,950 miles
I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT IN MY CONDOMINIUM COMPLEX, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (AT ZERO MPH). AS I WAS TRYING TO PUT IT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD AND JUMPED INTO THE HILLY WOODS. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT IT WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN AND I WASN'T ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING. THE CAR CONTINUED GOING THROUGH THE HILL FULL OF LARGE TREES. FINALLY THE VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A TREE. I HAD A HARD TIME OPENING THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE IT WAS WEDGED AGAINST SAID TREE. IF THE CAR DIDN'T CRASH INTO THE TREE, IT WOULD HAVE CONTINUED DOWN THE EMBANKMENT TO CRASH INTO 5 CARS BELOW AND THE RESULTS WOULD'VE BEEN MORE …
NHTSA complaint 11045914, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 injured · 1,123 miles
PURCHASED 02/13/17. MAR VA TO FL, SEAT HEATER ON, NOTICED HOT SMELL SEAT GOT EXTREMELY HOT, TURNED IT OFF, TAKES 10-15 MINS TO COOL DOWN WHILE IN SEAT. DAY 2 OF TRIP, HAPPENED AGAIN. STOPPED AT REST AREA, JEANS STUCK TO LEG, EXAM SHOWED RED POPPED BLISTER ON UPPER RIGHT LEG, EXTREMELY PAINFUL. APPLIED BURN CREAM AND BANDAID. DROVE TO FRIENDS, SITTING ON LEFT CHEEK. TOOK PICS, WENT TO URGENT CARE. DIAGNOSIS 2ND DEGREE BURN. 3/23 DEALER INSPECTED SEAT HEATER, STATED IT'S DESIGNED TO SHUT OFF AT 107 BUT WOULD PUT IN SYSTEM INCASE IT HAPPENED AGAIN, DIAGNOSED OPERATING AS DESIGNED. IN MAR CORPORATE OPENED 1ST CASE. BURNED 5 MORE TIMES, LAST ON 3/19/18, VEHICLE TO DEALER EACH TIME, ALWAYS …
NHTSA complaint 11120657, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
41,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while the vehicle was being charged, the battery intermittently failed to charge. As a result, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that unknown warning lights were illuminated but turned off after the battery was on charge mode. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the cause of the failure could not be determined, and the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be driven more often. No further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000. The VIN was …
NHTSA complaint 11544590, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
40,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Toyota Rav4 Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, he attempted to avoid a rock but was unsuccessful. The contact stated that rock struck the fuel neck and caused a substantial fuel leak, 13/8 hose was unprotected and cut. A fellow motorist alerted the contact of the failure. The contact inspected the vehicle and found the leak. The contact temporarily fixed the leak and drove to the residence. The contact ordered a new filler neck and repaired the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The manufacturer recommended that the contact take the vehicle to an authorized local dealer for inspection. The vehicle was inspected …
NHTSA complaint 11419467, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
41,000 miles
LDA AUDIO WARNING TOO LOW TO BE HEARD WHEN DRIVING I SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE LOOKING AT A SCREEN INSTEAD OF THE ROAD. SEAT BELT WARNING NOT AUDIBLE
NHTSA complaint 11206177. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SERVICE BRAKES
2017 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED BRAKING WHILE CAR IS IN CRUISE CONTROL. *LD *TR
NHTSA complaint 11175470. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
42,800 miles
JAN 29, 4:45PM, EVERETT WA. SHORTLY AFTER MERGING ONTO SOUTHBOUND I-5 FROM 526 THERE WAS A SINGLE LOUD EXPLODING NOISE FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF GLASS PIECES. THE SHADE GUARD WAS CLOSED. OPENING SHADE GUARD SHOWED THAT SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED LEAVING JAGGED GLASS AROUND THE EDGE TILTING UPWARDS. VEHICLE SPEED ABOUT 55MPH. WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND ABOUT 40 DEGREES.
NHTSA complaint 11173169. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
WHEELS
9,425 miles
RE.: PREMATURE FAILURE OF 2017 TOYOTA RAV-4 SE HYBRID 4-WD ALUMINUM WHEEL. ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7TH, 2018, WHILE DRIVING EASTBOUND ON HIGHWAY 70 AT AROUND 10:25 A.M., THE LEFT REAR WHEEL FAILED UNEXPECTEDLY ON MY WIFE'S 2018 TOYOTA RAV-4 SE HYBRID. I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY WIFE, MY 13-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, AND MY 9-YEAR OLD SON WHEN WE WERE STARTLED BY A LOUD BOOM, WHICH SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT I HAD RAN OVER SOMETHING, BUT QUICKLY RULED THAT OUT BECAUSE WITHIN SECONDS I COULD FEEL THE VEHICLE'S REAR END MAKING LOUD NOISES AND VIBRATED STRONGLY. I KNEW THEN THAT I HAD A FLAT TIRE. WE WERE GOING ABOUT 65MPH AND TRAVELING EAST ON THE FAR LEFT HAND OF A 4-LANE HIGHWAY. WHEN I …
NHTSA complaint 11139134, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, no campaign on file for this vehicle.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst