2021 Toyota Rav4

Family: RAV4 · filed with NHTSA as RAV4, RAV4 HYBRID

Summary

In its first three years the 2021 Rav4 drew 137 complaints — 1.0× the median of its generation (2019–2025). It does not stand out from the other years of this generation.
These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
Complaints are spread across systems: the largest, Airbags, holds 39% of the 363 that name a component.
1 recall filed for this model year.
1 federal defect investigation covers this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints: 411
Recalls: 1
Investigations: 1
NCAP overall: 5 of 5 stars
Combined MPG: 28–40
Annual fuel cost: $1,550–$2,250
Median mileage at complaint: 18,800 mi (n = 79)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths: 48 / 7 / 49 / 0

What owners report

Airbags

142 complaints · 39% of complaints that name a component · median 30,000 mi (n = 23)

Owner report I have been unable to get my vehicle inspected and repaired by a dealer despite months of waiting and asking two different Toyota dealers to order the necessary part or parts. This recall has been in place for years. For several years I was told it was only being done in certain states and that New Mexico would be l…

Owner report The contact owns a 2021 Toyota RAV4. The contact was traveling at approximately 50 MPH directly behind a van in the same lane of traffic. The van suddenly made an emergency avoidance maneuver to bypass a stationary vehicle completely stopped in the lane. Despite the attempt, the van rear-ended the stopped vehicle. The …

Electrical System

49 complaints · 13% of complaints that name a component · median 30,000 mi (n = 7)

Owner report Driver door lock actuator. When using the vehicles remote key, the driver door does not lock and unlock with the rest of the vehicles locks. This failure can cause theft of personal property in the vehicle or theft of the vehicle itself. The problem has been confirmed by other toyota owners with similar models. No warn…

Owner report Message "Voltage Abnormality Steering Power Low" was displayed several times while stopped at traffic lights and the auto stop/start engine feature was engaged. Took vehicle to dealership nothing was done since they could not replicate the issue.

Engine

41 complaints · 11% of complaints that name a component · median 53,000 mi (n = 5)

Owner report “Required Engine Maintenance- Visit Your Dealer” message came on the dash. After doing some research and troubleshooting; it appeared to be the coolant bypass valve that everyone has had issues with. The problem was then confirmed with a local provider who instructed us to contact the dealer to see if they’d cover the …

Owner report The coolant bypass valve failed and the car is a 2021 Rav 4 LE. I called Toyota and according to the VIN it is not covered for this type of repair. I see quite a few cars have had this same issue, all Toyota's. It was inspected and repaired at a local Toyota Dealership but I had to pay out of pocket for the repair. The…

12% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (2019–2025)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 137.

Model year	All complaints	First three years	Note
2019	906	437	most complaints
2020	651	248	most complaints
2021	411	137
2022	154	75	fewest complaints
2023	171	117
2024	177	177	not compared
2025	106	106	not compared

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

23V865000 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

Filed 2023-12-20 · 999,901 vehicles

Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.

Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.

Federal investigations

Action	Component	Opened	Closed	Recall
DP22005	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM	2023-01-27	2023-08-07	22V063000

DP22005: Pedestrian alert sounds

Engines and fuel economy

Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Fuel cost / yr
RAV4	2.5L 4cyl	Automatic (S8)	Front-Wheel Drive	27	35	30	$2100
RAV4	2.5L 4cyl	Automatic (S8)	Front-Wheel Drive	28	35	30	$2100
RAV4 AWD	2.5L 4cyl	Automatic (S8)	All-Wheel Drive	27	33	29	$2150
RAV4 AWD	2.5L 4cyl	Automatic (S8)	All-Wheel Drive	25	33	28	$2250
RAV4 AWD LE	2.5L 4cyl	Automatic (S8)	All-Wheel Drive	27	34	30	$2100
RAV4 AWD TRD OFFROAD	2.5L 4cyl	Automatic (S8)	All-Wheel Drive	25	32	28	$2250
RAV4 Hybrid AWD	2.5L 4cyl Hybrid	Automatic (AV-S6)	All-Wheel Drive	41	38	40	$1550

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

Variant	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover
2021 Toyota RAV4 SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆
2021 Toyota RAV4 SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆
2021 Toyota RAV4 HYBRID SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆
2021 Toyota RAV4 PRIME SUV AWD	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated

Service bulletins

Toyota issued 391 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about electrical system.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

Date	Component	Summary
2026-08-20	ENGINE	This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high voltage (HV) Ni-MH and Li-ion batteries.
2026-08-20	ENGINE	OBSOLETE NOTICE August 20, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0051-26.
2026-08-11	ENGINE	Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repair…
2026-08-11	ENGINE	Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 36 months or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toyota is providing coverage for repair…
2026-05-14	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	Although the HV Floor Under Wire Harness and Rear Traction Motor Cable is covered by Toyota’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first), we at Toyota care about the customers’ ownership experience. Toy…
2026-04-01	ENGINE	Some customers may experience a rough running engine with a MIL ON P140018 DTC. Upon further inspection, a loose C90/C27 connector pin at the EGR valve may be found. To correct this concern, please reference the repair section of this TSB.
2026-02-27	ENGINE	OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
2026-02-27	ENGINE	OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
2026-01-30	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.
2026-01-30	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	OBSOLETE NOTICE January 30, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0001-26.

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this RAV4, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Toyota RAV4 model page.

Sources

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.