Problems · NHTSA complaints

2019 Toyota RAV4 problems

Owners filed 884 complaints about the 2019 Toyota RAV4 with NHTSA between Mar 2019 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is fuel/propulsion system (255).

Complaints
884
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
25
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
22
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel/propulsion system255
  2. Engine207
  3. Electrical system103
  4. Structure90
  5. Power train82
  6. Air bags45
  7. Service brakes35
  8. Steering33
  9. Vehicle speed control30
  10. Forward collision avoidance18
  11. Suspension16
  12. Visibility/wiper15
  13. Fuel system, gasoline13
  14. Seats12

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 Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
2019139
2020193
202189
202271
2023114
2024136
202592
202650

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Fuel/propulsion system

255 reports1 fire
“While driving in the mountains on a hot day, the car suddenly reported numerous faults, including check engine, parking brake malfunction, pre-collision system malfunction, AWD system malfunction, and secondary collision brake system malfunction. The car lost power and forced us to pull over on the side of a dangerous mountain highway. We powered-off the car for a few minutes and started it again and were able to proceed to our nearby remote mountain destination without another loss of power, but the faults remained. The next day we were able to get the car to a nearby NAPA store to read the check engine codes, which there were only 2 of the "P0087" code. I had them clear the fault codes in order to be able to safely drive the car (~120 miles) back home. Some quick research shows a known issue and TSB for that in our exact high-altitude and high-temperature situation - Toyota T-SB-0058-22, related to a known design flaw with the ECM and fuel suction tube. Luckily, it did not throw the errors again during our drive home. I made an appointment at our local AutoNation Toyota Arapahoe for the following week. I detailed the issue and provided pictures of the errors…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2026Fuel/propulsion system, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11758893

Engine

207 reports1 crash
“I am reporting a potentially recurring safety-related failure of the electric engine coolant/water pump on my 2019 Toyota RAV4 equipped with the 2.5L A25A-FKS engine. My vehicle recently developed DTC P26CB/P26CB71, indicating an electric engine coolant pump performance/speed problem. The failure caused loss of proper coolant circulation and resulted in my vehicle overheating while I was driving on the highway. An unexpected cooling-system failure at highway speed creates a safety hazard and can result in severe engine overheating, potentially catastrophic engine damage, and an unexpected need to stop near traffic. Approximately two months before this failure, my vehicle received a separate cooling-system repair from an authorized Toyota dealer under Customer Support Program 24TE04, which covers the flow shut-off valve/water-bypass assembly on certain 2019–2021 RAV4 vehicles. Approximately two months later, the vehicle developed the P26CB coolant-pump fault. Toyota previously documented electric water-pump problems involving P26CB71 on A25A-equipped vehicles. In Tech Tip T-TT-0614-20, dated May 28, 2020, Toyota identified P26CB71, P26CA14, and P26CA31 and/or…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 28, 2026EngineODI 11767567

Electrical system

103 reports3 crashes2 fires
“As soon as my vehicle hit 100K mileages and there's "AWD System malfunction" sign showed up on dash. Got it done replaced it cost roughly more than $500. After 2 days later another problem shows up on dash this time it was "engine maintenance required" show on dash again. Heard people had the same issue to whoever own 2019 RAV4 and they all had the same for those 2 issues. Toyota company should pay attention for these kind of problems or like some of of recall.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2026Electrical system, EngineODI 11763036

Structure

90 reports2 crashes1 fire
“The contact owns a 2019 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact stated that while attempting to open the driver's and rear passenger's side doors from outside the vehicle, the exterior door handles fractured. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a fractured rear exterior driver's door handle and rear exterior passenger's door handle. The contact was informed that the exterior door handles needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 23, 2026StructureODI 11773257

Power train

82 reports1 crash
“"I am filing a deceptive trade practices and fraudulent service documentation complaint against Rodland Toyota of Everett. I brought my 2019 Toyota RAV4 in for a critical drivetrain defect under an active corporate warranty program. The dealership returned the vehicle to me with official invoice documentation stating they inspected and test-drove the vehicle. However, the official paperwork provided by the dealer shows that the 'Odometer In' and 'Odometer Out' mileage are completely identical. The dealership committed consumer fraud by falsifying safety inspection records and failing to perform any diagnostic work, leaving me to drive an unsafe vehicle. Toyota Corporate Case Management is now using this fraudulent lack of replication to deny my coverage under Customer Support Program 20TE03."”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2026Power trainODI 11772583

Air bags

45 reports5 crashes
“It happened yesterday , November 3rd at 8:45 am Approx. speed was 35mph to 40 •Location: 934 York Road, Towson, MD •Description: Front-right impact at 40 mph, no airbag deployment, two children in back seat, vehicle had recent 50K service and roof-rail repair, CSP 22TE05, at Sheehy Toyota Cockeysville. Vehicle now at Caliber Collision Cockeysville. Claim #060381946 I am experiencing neck, shoulder and rib pain right now, my 5 year old complain about right ankle pain and apparently hit his head on the right side.My 3 year old complain about neck pain yesterday. There was no sign showing any kind of failure on my dashboard. I asked my vehicle to be investigated formally by Toyota engineer asap or forensic expert. I asked my vehicle to be freeze right until proper airbag inspection have been conducted. I have picture of the car showing clearly that none of the airbags worked.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2025Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11697378
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

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