Model year record

2015 Toyota RAV4

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 436 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 23V734000

Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery

Component
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
1,853,568
Reported to NHTSA
2023-11-01
Owners notified
2024-12-27

Defect description

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.

Safety risk

A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V144000

Steering: electric power assist system

Component
Steering: electric power assist system
Manufacturer
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Vehicles affected
110,085
Reported to NHTSA
2015-03-13
Owners notified
2015-05-07

Defect description

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2015 Camry, Camry Hybrid, Highlander, and Highlander Hybrid, and 2014-2015 Rav4 vehicles. A component of the electric power steering (EPS) electronic control unit (ECU) may have been damaged during the manufacturing process. Over time, this damage may result in failure of the electric power steering system.

Safety risk

An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the serial number of the EPS ECU or steering column assembly. If the number is within the affected range, the EPS ECU will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Recall campaignNHTSA 15V011000

Trailer hitches

Component
Trailer hitches
Manufacturer
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC
Vehicles affected
1,140
Reported to NHTSA
2015-01-16
Owners notified
2015-03-17

Defect description

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.

Safety risk

If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.

Recall campaignNHTSA 14V828000

Equipment

Component
Equipment
Manufacturer
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC
Vehicles affected
3,958
Reported to NHTSA
2014-12-30
Owners notified
2015-02-23

Defect description

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Scion FRS, and XB vehicles. The affected vehicles may have accessories installed by SET, such as running boards or other items, that were incorrectly installed. The accessory attaching fasteners were not tightened with the proper torque, possibly causing the accessory to detach from the vehicle.

Safety risk

Accessories that detach from a vehicle may result in a vehicle crash and/or personal injury.

Manufacturer remedy

SET will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the affected bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 23, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-14B.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system9355,000 mi
Unknown or other6830,050 mi
Steering5042,000 mi
Engine3940,000 mi
Service brakes3220,000 mi
Structure: body2724,000 mi
Power train2440,000 mi
Vehicle speed control2120,000 mi
Air bags1524,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system125,700 mi
Seat belts645,000 mi
Visibility/wiper623,960 mi
Exterior lighting545,000 mi
Suspension524,854 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate: hinge and attachments4
Electronic stability control (ESC)34,875 mi
Back over prevention2189,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery2
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter2120,000 mi
Structure2100 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly25,000 mi
Wheels210,000 mi
Air bags: frontal130,000 mi
Back over prevention: warnings1
Electrical system: ignition175 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility13,600 mi
Equipment: electrical: infotainment: bluetooth/wifi1
Exterior lighting: headlights153,000 mi
Firerelated1110,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline190,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: evaporative emissions: canister190,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly194,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic1
Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments186,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal118,870 mi
Visibility19,100 mi

The 2014 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. The 2016 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.