Problems · NHTSA complaints
1997 Toyota RAV4 problems
Owners filed 57 complaints about the 1997 Toyota RAV4 with NHTSA between Jan 1997 and Aug 2019. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (11).
Complaints
57
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
9
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Vehicle speed control7
- Structure6
- Air bags6
- Power train5
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Electrical system3
- Tires3
- Seat belts3
- Engine2
- Seats2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Suspension1
- Service brakes, electric1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
5
6
11
7
2
3
5
2
2
1
1
1
0
2
1
2
1
1
2
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 5 |
| 1998 | 6 |
| 1999 | 11 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
11 reports1 crash1 fire
“DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT SHIFTED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO REPLACED GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE). *AK”
Vehicle speed control
7 reports1 crash
“RAV 4 TOYOTA 1997-WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 30 MILES WITHOUT THE RPR INCREASED WITHOUT CONTROL, TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE BECOME EXTREMELY HOT, FLUIDS WERE DRAINED . CAR SENT TO DARCARS TOYOTA THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED, AND NOW FACING SEVERE TRANSMISSION ISSUES, BECAUSE LACK OF RECALL RPR 'S ISSUE VERY DETRIMENTAL AND RISKY . *TR”
Structure
6 reports
“1997 RAV4 AWD 109000 DEALER SERVICED TOOK IN FOR A OIL CHANGE 2/18/16 DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE CRADLE ASSY HAS A TENNIS BALL SIZE HOLE IN IT NEAR NEXT TO LEFT CONTROL ARM , $2361.30 TO REPLACE OR JUNK THE VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, VEHICLE SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES AND ITS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION NOW, MY 22 YR OLD DAUGHTER HAS BEEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE THE LAST 6 1/2 YRS A VERY POOR DESIGN BY TOYOTA”
Air bags
6 reports4 crashes
“WHILE DRIVING AND APPROACHING A STEEP HILL AT 35 MPH, AND UPON GOING DOWN A HILL, VEHICLE FISH TAILED OUT OF CONTROL. HITTING A MEDIAN STRIP. CONSUMER HAD TO SWERVE RIGHT, AND WENT INTO A TAIL SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE SEAT BELT EITHER RELEASED OR BROKE. THE ROOF CAVED IN. ALL THE WINDOWS BROKE. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK”
Power train
5 reports
“POPS OUT OF 5TH GEAR! HAD FIXED, AND 6 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *NM”
Service brakes, hydraulic
4 reports1 crash
“IT WAS RAINING, NOT HEAVY, THOUGH. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO BRAKE BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE CAR STARTED LOSING CONTROL AND I COULDN'T BRAKE AND STOP THE CAR AT ALL. THEN THE CAR STARTED MOVING TOWARDS THE LEFT QUICKLY AND SPINNED FOR ABOUT 2 OR 3 TIMES. THE REAR END ON THE RIGHT SIDE FINALLY HIT THE MIDDLE BARRIER ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR TURNED OUT TO BE FACING THE INCOMING TRAFFIC. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WASN'T HURT TOO BADLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T HIT ANY OTHER CARS (LUCKILY) AND IT WAS THE REAR END THAT GOT HIT. I GOT A BIG BRUISE ON MY THIGH AND MY WHOLE BODY WAS SORE FOR 3 DAYS. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A DEFECT WITH THE BRAKE OR THE WHEELS OR NOT, BUT I THOUGHT I'D REPORT THIS FOR OTHER OWNERS TO BE AWARE OF. *AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.