2020 Toyota RAV4 Complaint Log

The powered liftgate hinge is cracking and coming off the body of the car. Now the trunk/liftgate will not close. This is now a safety concern as I’m afraid the other hinge is becoming overloaded and the entire thing could separate off from the car. This seems to be a common issue with my model and year. No warning of this. All of a sudden I could not close my trunk.

Sudden and complete failure of the water pump causing an explosion of the part. While traveling down the interstate, put lives in danger due to sudden jolt and rapid deceleration. Recently brought the vehicle in to correct recall on the engine coolant bypass valve. Issue with the bypass valve hastened the deterioration of the water pump to the point of failure. Told by mechanic that this is a known issue that just happens with Toyota’s. If this is a known issue, then it seems to me there should be another recall on the water pump. Plastic parts with highly corrosive liquids at high temps do not mix. Toyota needs to fix this costly issue.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the message "Air Bag Fault" was displayed. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and filed a case. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.

Engine maintenance light came on. Many others are reporting the same problem. Coolant bypass hose or valve.

Rear middle seatbelt sensor keeps going off when driving.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The vehicle was previously taken to a dealer for maintenance, and it was discovered that there was an oil leak underneath the vehicle. The contact stated that the transmission was shifting roughly while driving. The vehicle was driven to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. There were metal fragments found in the transmission fluid. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an electronic power steering module failure. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The contact was informed of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The vehicle was not inspected. The contact was provided a diagnostic test fee, and the contact declined. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 133,255.

I am submitting this complaint regarding a structural failure of the rear liftgate hinges on my 2020 Toyota RAV4 XLE. The liftgate began opening and closing crooked, and I noticed the door was no longer aligned evenly. After inspection by Toyota dealership, I was informed that the metal hinges attached to the liftgate and body are cracked and must be replaced. This failure is not the result of an accident, misuse, or impact. I have never been in a collision involving the rear of the vehicle. I was told this damage is considered “wear and tear,” so my insurance company declined coverage. The Toyota dealership also declined to cover the repair, stating it is not covered under warranty so I will have to pay out of pocket. However, after researching this issue, I found that many other Toyota RAV4 owners have reported the same hinge cracking and liftgate misalignment problem. This appears to be a widespread manufacturing or design defect rather than normal wear. This is a serious safety concern. If the hinges continue to crack, the liftgate could fail completely and fall, potentially causing injury. The misalignment also prevents the liftgate from opening and closing properly, which affects vehicle safety and usability. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue and consider whether a safety recall or technical service bulletin is necessary to protect drivers and passengers. Thank you for your time and consideration.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving or while the vehicle was parked, there was water leaking from the sunroof. While driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud clunking sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that front alignment was needed, and that the roof rails needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 149,782.

When trying to start my vehicle this morning, the car was having a noticeable issue the minute I turned on the vehicle. It was making some weird noises under the hood, and it was starting to lose power. Then the engine would cut out and a warning would appear on my dash that read, "Engine Stopped, Steering Power Low" Thank God this happened while I was at home. What if this had happened while I was driving down the road, at a red light. I would have been a sitting duck in the middle of the road and would not want to put my kids or I in jeopardy of being hit.

I am writing to formally report a significant structural failure regarding the power liftgate system on my 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XLE. Recently, the trunk began failing to close properly. Upon a detailed inspection, I discovered that the sheet metal surrounding the hinges has suffered catastrophic failure. The left-side hinge mounting point is severely fractured, and the right side is exhibiting clear stress cracks. This is not a case of "wear and tear." This is a structural failure where the force exerted by the factory power struts appears to have overpowered the vehicle's body structure, leading to metal fatigue and tearing. I would like to emphasize the following points regarding this case: Maintenance & Care: This vehicle has been maintained strictly according to Toyota’s recommended intervals and has been handled with the utmost care. There has been no external impact or misuse of the liftgate. Safety Risk: The inability to securely latch the trunk poses a severe safety hazard. I am concerned about the liftgate's stability at highway speeds and the potential for exhaust fumes to enter the cabin. Consequently, I no longer feel safe using this vehicle for my daily commute. Request for Action: Given that this appears to be a known issue within the 2019–2021 RAV4 production years, I am requesting that Toyota stand behind its reputation for quality and safety. I ask that Toyota cover the full cost of the structural repairs and the replacement of the affected hinges and struts. I trust that Toyota will treat this as a priority safety matter. I look forward to your prompt response regarding a diagnostic appointment and a resolution for these repairs. Sincerely, [XXX] VIN [XXX] Phone Number [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Rear hatch were repaired new actuators but still malfunctioning now hinges are defective dealer won't honor extended warranty suggest take to body shop have defective hinges replaced at my cost

The left rear lift gate hinge has warped in such a way the seam sealer can be seen broken and the lift gate is no longer aligned properly so its causing damage to the right side lift gate light assembly as well as the right side taillight.

unknown power steering issues

The screens will flicker and then dim on its own while driving.

Engine light shows on in dash. Stopped to fuel up Car stalled, would not restart Diagnosed fuel pump No prior history of engine issue

For the last 2 months, a code comes up it says loss of electric power steering assist. It came up 15 times in two months. What happens is a steering wheel ceases up for a second or two and then the code goes away. This is something that could happen anytime especially if I have my grandchildren with me and ex steering wheel could freeze up and I wouldn’t be able to steer around an accident at an intersection or something. This is very hazardous to me and my family. There was a recall on some of the 2020 Toyota RAV4’s in the past. I’m telling you I’m not a liar. I do get this coming up this way too many times.

We bought a 2020 Toyota Rav4 Limited with Sunroof. When we were driving in freeway, we noticed that a glass shattered somewhere in my car. We realized that the sunroof was completely shattered. There was no accident, just a heavy rain. We didn't know what to do, we didn't know if we have to call police in a matter as it was a potential safety hazard. We have seen a lot of complaint about this and there is no option to completely sealed it off or get rid of sunroof. We are now scared of driving this car in long distance, we will be trading this vehicle soon because of the incident.

Bought the car with 114k on it now with 115k and I brought it in to Toyota because I have a “engine maintenance required” on the dash now they are trying to charge me almost $1000 because my car has over 100k miles on it and they said they won’t cover it.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message “Engine Maintenance Required” was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the heater control valve had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

The paint on my 2020 Toyota RAV4 (Blueprint color) is peeling and deteriorating prematurely, on the hood. The vehicle has been properly maintained and has not been in any accidents. The paint started peeling without any external cause. I’ve noticed similar complaints from other 2020 Toyota RAV4 owners, especially those with the Blueprint color, reporting the same issue. This suggests a widespread paint or clear coat defect from the manufacturer. The peeling paint not only affects appearance but also exposes the metal body to rust and corrosion, which could eventually compromise the vehicle’s safety and structure. Toyota has not issued a recall or offered repairs for this known problem, and many owners are being asked to pay out of pocket for costly repainting. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue as a potential manufacturing defect and urge Toyota to take corrective action through a recall or warranty extension for affected vehicles.

Shorted Coolant Bypass Valve, only 14500 miles on my 2020 Rav4, Class action Suit and dealerships want you to pay $800-$1000 to fix problem with a leaky defective plastic poorly designed valve that eventually leaks into the electrical connectors and shorts circuits the valve. There is no recall for this fix and Toyota won't honor the repair. This is a common issue and Toyota Turns a Blind Eye. Error Message: Engine Maintenace Required Call Toyota Dealership. I Did and they give me a song and Dance stating there is no recall for this issue. If i run the heater in the car the message for a few a minutes, then shut off vehicle maintenance warning will reset, once I turn on the AC it will come back on. So, I guess I have to keep the heater on all summer.

The hinges for the rear door/hatch broke. The door became unaligned and would not close and I had to drive my vehicle to a repair shop with the rear door ajar. This has not been inspected by manufacturer, no police or insurance inspection either. There is no reason these hinges should be worn and literally torn after 5 years.

Rear seat seat belt warning and chimes comes up even when no one sitting in the back and no stuff is put on the back seat. It start chiming randomly and even when all 3 seat belts are buckled the chime comes up. It is security risk as the sudden sound of warnings can distract drive when driving and can cause accident. This model of Rav 4 does not have option to disable this feature, and cause lot of annoyance when random warning chimes start blaring through the vehicle without any reason and resolution. Toyota is refusing to do anything about it in spite of multiple forums reported this issue with various Toyota models. NHTSA need to take action on Toyota for this safety issue.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Engine maintenance message appeared on my dash. I took it to Big O's Tires and Service a car repair service provider. Upon connecting to the car and inspecting they told me it was a faulty possibly leaking engine coolant valve. The cost to repair is $916. This may cause the engine to overheat and possibly fail due to overheating. This can be very dangerous because it will happen if it does happen while driving which could cause an accident. I have not fixed the issue yet due to a lack of funds but will have to fix it as soon as a get paid because I drive my family in this car and cannot risk catastrophic engine failure. Please have Toyota recall this part as it is a very common failure amongst 2019-2023 Rav4s. A class action lawsuit is underway due to how often this issue arises. Thank you for your time.

i cant use my cruise control its not going straight and everytime im turning i can hear a grinding noise its coming from power steering

I was driving the car with no issues on [XXX]- made two 30-minute trips with no issues the same day. During a 15-minute drive, the car was fine until I was at an intersection 12 minutes into the drive [XXX] and [XXX] ). I was stopped at the intersection for maybe a minute, and when the traffic light turned green, I released my brake and went to accelerate when I got the following display message: "Engine Stopped Steering Power Low." The engine turned off, and I couldn't get the car to budge in drive or reverse. When I tried pressing on the gas pedal, it wouldn't budge and felt very stiff. I'm thankful this happened at a smaller intersection on a Sunday evening because my car wouldn't start back up and was stuck in the dead center of this intersection. Cars going East and South all had to drive around me. This put my safety at risk because I had to hop out of my car and redirect people around it until a kind passerby pulled over to help push my car to the right-side turning lane. I was standing in the middle of an intersection on a road with a 35-40 mph speed limit. After pushing the car to the curb and calling a few towing places (maybe 20 minutes later), I tried starting the car again, and it started with no issues whatsoever. I drove it the rest of the way back (for 3 minutes) with no problems, and I made another three 20-25 minute drives on it today. Nothing sounds wrong with the car; it's running with no issues. I would take my car to the dealership for a diagnostic, but I can't afford to right now. I will put my battery on a tender and use a multimeter to check the voltage within the next few days. Regular maintenance has been kept, and the car has never had this happen prior. I've never received the "Engine Stopped Steering Power Low" message prior to this incident. The car is available for inspection upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Coolant Bypass Valve failure at 40k miles - 2020 rav4. Replacement at dealership is costing over 800$.

Water by-pass hose failure

This recall remedy is overdue and poses a safety risk to passengers. Toyota is currently preparing the remedy for this issue. When the remedy is available, Toyota dealers will inspect the OCS sensors and, if necessary, replace them FREE OF CHARGE. At this time, Toyota estimates the remedy can be available in Quarter 3, 2024, but this is subject to change based on parts availability.

The coolant bypass valuve has failed. There looks to be a class action lawsuit currently underway.

When attempting to open the rear lift gate wither from the dash or from the key fob rear lift gate partial opens followed by multiple beeps rear lift gift then has to be manually opened or closed

Dear NHTSA, My name is [XXX] the owner of the above RAV4. It has been probably if not, six months since that I kept on going to my local dealer for the safety recall on my vehicle however, every time I am going to the dealer, they told me that the recall is not available as a yet. I am very concerned about this issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that during inclement weather, moisture entered the vehicle through the front passenger side and the rear driver side doors. The contact stated that upon opening both the front passenger’s and the rear driver’s side doors, there was a water swishing sound coming from inside the doors. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota RAV4. The contact stated that while driving at 8 MPH to an appointment and making several turns in the parking lot, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into the building. There were no warning lights illuminated. The top of the vehicle had to be cut off. The driver had a concussion, soft tissue injuries to the neck and back. The passenger sustained a fractured sternum, soft tissue damage, and dementia injuries, The two occupants were provided medical attention. Both of the occupants were wearing seatbelts. The airbags deployed. There was smoke inside the vehicle due to the airbag deployment. There were no reported fire. A police report was filed. The contact mentioned an engine throttle error. The black data was downloaded by her lawyer, which indicated she was not depressing the brakes. The anti-collision feature did not engage. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

My vehicle Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2020 began lost power and jerk on highway driving and then following messages appeared: Hybrid System Malfunction, A malfunction in electronic control of engine, throttle or automatic transmission has been detected and check engine light. This happened in September 2024. Toyota dealership replaced the low fuel pressure sensor A after my complaint and vehicle diagnostic, but it did not help. I recently had the same problem while driving on the highway for a long distance.

This safety recall relate to airbag on front passenger seat may not deploy due to an accident..im really afraid the risk it have when invole in an accident...i try to call dealer to ask for repair but they say just wait because the remedy is not available...my car is on year 2020 but they still have not the part to get it fix yet...this is the priority safety matter

UNKNOWN

Failure of the Drivers Side Power Seat.

I have a 20202 Rav4 Hybrid and the engine short block has malfunctioned due to no error on my part, in my research there was a recall for this EXACTLY this issues in other cars of this year/make/model - although my vehicle initially did not qualify for this I believe that this in fact related and that Toyota should be responsible for the repair or replacement of the engine. The car is currently with a Toyota Dealership Service Center, Lake City Toyota in Seattle, WA but they have not been helpful. They have given me vague answers and have sent the engine offsite to a machine shop and keep requesting that I pour additional money into fixing an engine that clearly had a manufacturer defect. My car has always been serviced at Toyota dealerships, as suggested by Toyota. My car has never had previous issues until the engine light came on one day, i checked the coolant and it was empty - first replaced the fluid, let it sit overnight, then drove it around the block to circulate the coolant - when the reservoir emptied again I immediately made an appointment to take it in. The Dealership has not given me any paper invoices or written confirmation/notice of what is happening aside form continuing to ask me to pay more money to fix an engine that is clearly related to the national recall issued.

Coolant relief valve failure

The contact owns a 2020 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Shortly after having vehicle serviced at Toyota the engine maintenance light came on. Imagine my surprise at learning that many other Rav4 owners have the same exact issue right around the 65,000 mile mark. But regardless I toke it to the Toyota dealer to have them diagnose the issue and under the advisement of the technician opt in for the repair so that my car “wouldn’t have more serious problems as a result [of not fixing the coolant bypass valve].” So now I have to pay $1000 for repair when I have had the car just the tiniest bit over 4 years (which is how long the warranty lasted).

The coolant valve is malfunctioning and causing an engine safety light to be on constantly

Coolant bypass valve failure

After 4 to 5 years vehicle has begun to sporadically upon the first 10 minutes of driving to show a low power steering error message. The error message turns on and turns off within one second many people have been reporting the same issue with even their newer model RAV4’s. This is not acceptable.

The wiring harness to the lithium battery is corroded, and it is unregulated. My repair shop said the car is unsafe to drive because of the amount of unregulated electricity in the battery. Also, the cruise control doesn't work. My repair shop says this is happening to other vehicles. Parts and labor total almost $7,000.

My Rav4 xle 2020. Starting the engine up it shakes and blows white smokes for 5 seconds and smooths out. This symptoms happens every time when engine is turn on I have to fill coolant once a week.

"Engine maintenance required. Visit your dealer" prompt after turning on Air conditioning. Message of Engine coolant bypass valve circuit short to battery or open upon diagnostic test