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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2011 Toyota RAV4Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 11 safety recalls and 287 owner complaints for the 2011 Toyota RAV4. Most complaints involve vehicle speed control (69) and visibility/wiper (48). The EPA rates it 21–24 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 3 stars overall.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
21–24mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
3of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
11campaigns
Latest Aug 2016
Owner complaints
287
Top: vehicle speed control
Fuel cost / yr
$2,600est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

11 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: rear

Free remedy

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 31, 2005, to September 7, 2010, and 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured July 6, 2009, to August 26, 2010. The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that may have been improperly tightened after servicing. As a result of being loose, the arm may have thread damage and may rust, possibly leading to the failure of the arm and an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.

SuspensionReported Aug 12, 2016NHTSA 16V596000

Seats: seat heater

Free remedy

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.

SeatsReported Jun 2, 2016NHTSA 16V396000

Seat belts: rear

Free remedy

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame.

Seat beltsReported Feb 19, 2016NHTSA 16V096000
See all 11 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

287 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2011 – Jul 2026
  1. Vehicle speed control69
  2. Visibility/wiper48
  3. Service brakes43
  4. Engine33
  5. Seat belts30
  6. Power train25
  7. Air bags20
  8. Electrical system19
  9. Suspension16

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each RAV4 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
199647
199757
199885
199963
200040
2001314
2002555
2003327
2004154
2005141
2006704
20071,003
2008575
2009327
2010400
2011287
2012266
2013261
2014207
2015305
2016239
2017307
2018333
2019884
2020639
2021389
2022149
2023164
2024176
202594
Crashes reported
44
Fires reported
8
Injuries reported
20
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Vehicle speed control

69 reports21 crashes2 fires
“The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving and depressing the brake pedal to come to a complete stop, the vehicle continued to accelerate unintendedly. The contact continuously depressed the brake pedal and shifted to neutral(N), and the vehicle responded as intended. The contact stated that the failure recurred while at a complete stop and while reversing from the driveway onto the roadway. The failure only occurred while the cruise control was activated but not set. The contact previously owned another 2011 Toyota Rav4 vehicle, which also experienced the failure. An independent mechanic informed the contact that the manufacturer had previously provided a remedy for the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2026Vehicle speed controlODI 11720240

Visibility/wiper

48 reports
“I HAVE FIXED MY REAR SUSPENSION MORE THAN 4X AND IT CONTINUES TO GO BAD, IT WORKS FINE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BUT STILL NOT RUNNING WELL THEN IT SHOCKS AND GOES BACK TO BOUNCING WHENEVER IT HITS A BUMP OR ANYTHING NOT SMOOTH ON THE ROADS. IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AND YOU FEEL IT A LOT MORE WHEN IT'S RUNNING ON LOCAL ROADS. THE VISIBILITY IS BAD, THE DEFOGGER DOES NOT WORK AND I HAVE TO WAIT ABOUT 15-20 MINS OR OPEN THE WINDOW. WHEN I PUT MY HANDS ON THE VENT FOR THE DEFOGGER THERE IS NO AIR COMING FROM IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2020Suspension, Visibility/wiperODI 11299767

Service brakes

43 reports14 crashes
“To begin with, the 2011 Toyota Rav4 in question was a loaner provided to me by Fiore VW AUDI (1000 S. Logan Blvd in Hollidaysburg, PA 16648) at @ 10:45 AM on 9/16/23. My 2018 Toyota Sienna was being serviced at this location on 9/18/23 and they provided me the 2011 Rav4 in the meantime. The brakes failing, the steering wheel locking up, and the sudden acceleration of this 2011 Rav4 occurred later that afternoon @ 4 PM in a Sheetz parking lot at 3261 W. College Ave. State College, PA 16801. As I was turning left into an open parking space at the rear entrance of this Sheetz, I began to turn the steering wheel to the right, straighten out, and park properly in the parking space; I also began to press down on brake to stop the car. As I pressed down on the brake pedal, the brakes quickly locked up and became unresponsive. Simultaneously, the steering wheel locked up becoming unresponsive with the front wheels still slightly turned to the left. I was still coming out of my turn when this vehicle failure began. I quickly took my foot off the brake, then the car suddenly burst forward with an intense acceleration. I immediately put my foot back down on the brake, but…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 24, 2023Steering, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedODI 11546268
All 2011 RAV4 problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl · 3.5L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Automatic 5-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
RAV4 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212824$2,600370
RAV4 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
212723$2,700386
RAV4 2WD
Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192622$2,850404
RAV4 4WD
Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L · All-Wheel Drive
192521$2,950423
  • RAV4 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    21 city · 28 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • RAV4 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.5 L
    21 city · 27 hwy · $2,700/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • RAV4 2WD
    Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    19 city · 26 hwy · $2,850/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
  • RAV4 4WD
    Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    19 city · 25 hwy · $2,950/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
3/ 5
3 of 5
Toyota RAV4 SUV AWD
Frontal crash
3 of 5
Side crash
4 of 5
Side pole
2 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
17.4%
Overall
3 / 5
Toyota RAV4 SUV FWD
Frontal crash
3 of 5
Side crash
4 of 5
Side pole
2 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
18.5%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 626Vehicle 455
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2011 RAV4 questions

How many recalls does the 2011 Toyota RAV4 have?

11 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2011 Toyota RAV4 problems?

Owners filed 287 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are vehicle speed control (69), visibility/wiper (48), service brakes (43). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2011 Toyota RAV4 get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Toyota RAV4 at 21–24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

How safe is the 2011 Toyota RAV4?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2011 Toyota RAV4 3 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026