Which years should I avoid for the Toyota RAV4?

NHTSA data flags 2007, 2008, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024 as Avoid years for the RAV4, based on complaint index and recall counts relative to other RAV4 years.

Which years should I avoid for the Hyundai Tucson?

2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2025 are listed as Avoid years for the Tucson. No Tucson model year reaches a Good or Best verdict because of recall campaigns across the lineup.

Does the Hyundai Tucson have a Good or Best year?

No. The Tucson has no best_years listed; every model year carries at least a Caution verdict due to recall campaigns.

Which model has more complaints overall?

The RAV4 has 7,793 total complaints (371 per model year) versus 6,207 for the Tucson (296 per model year), but NHTSA does not publish sales data, so these totals are not normalized per vehicle sold.

How do the two compare on fuel economy?

The RAV4 averages 25.6 mpg combined across its lineup, while the Tucson averages 24.2 mpg combined.

Toyota RAV4 vs Hyundai Tucson: Which Years to Avoid

Toyota RAV4 owners filed 7,793 complaints across 46 recall campaigns (371 per model year); Hyundai Tucson owners filed 6,207 complaints across 34 recalls (296 per model year). RAV4 years to avoid are 2007, 2008, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024; Tucson years to avoid are 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2025, and no Tucson year earns a Good or Best verdict.

Head to head

Toyota RAV4

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 7,793
Per model year: 371
Recall campaigns: 46
Years to avoid: 2007, 2008, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024
Best years: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2022
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 25.6
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.7 ★

Hyundai Tucson

Model years: 2005–2025 (21)
NHTSA complaints: 6,207
Per model year: 296
Recall campaigns: 34
Years to avoid: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2025
Best years: —
Top problem area: Engine
Avg. EPA combined MPG: 24.2
Avg. NHTSA overall rating: 4.7 ★

Year by year

Complaint Index is relative within each model (0 = that model’s best year, 100 = its worst). Complaints and recalls are raw counts.

Year	RAV4				Tucson
Year	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG	Verdict	Complaints	Recalls	MPG
2005	Caution	141	5	22.5	Caution	185	8	21
2006	Caution	704	11	22	Good	135	5	21
2007	Avoid	1,004	14	22	Good	65	5	21
2008	Avoid	575	14	22	Good	43	1	21
2009	Caution	327	15	23	Good	18	1	21
2010	Caution	400	14	23	Caution	59	4	24.5
2011	Caution	287	11	22.5	Caution	124	5	23.5
2012	Best	260	5	23	Caution	255	3	23
2013	Best	257	2	25.5	Caution	266	3	23
2014	Best	197	4	25.5	Caution	201	2	22.5
2015	Caution	304	4	25.5	Caution	227	1	23
2016	Good	240	3	25	Avoid	1,619	5	27
2017	Caution	307	3	25	Avoid	1,086	3	27
2018	Good	331	3	25	Avoid	396	1	24.5
2019	Avoid	878	7	30	Avoid	379	1	24
2020	Avoid	634	6	29.5	Caution	177	1	24
2021	Avoid	386	1	29.5	Caution	79	1	24
2022	Best	145	1	29.5	Avoid	381	3	29
2023	Caution	155	3	29.5	Caution	133	2	28
2024	Avoid	174	3	29	Caution	96	4	28
2025	Good	87	3	30	Avoid	283	6	28

Complaint Index by year

Frequently asked questions

Which years should I avoid for the Toyota RAV4?: NHTSA data flags 2007, 2008, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024 as Avoid years for the RAV4, based on complaint index and recall counts relative to other RAV4 years.
Which years should I avoid for the Hyundai Tucson?: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2025 are listed as Avoid years for the Tucson. No Tucson model year reaches a Good or Best verdict because of recall campaigns across the lineup.
Does the Hyundai Tucson have a Good or Best year?: No. The Tucson has no best_years listed; every model year carries at least a Caution verdict due to recall campaigns.
Which model has more complaints overall?: The RAV4 has 7,793 total complaints (371 per model year) versus 6,207 for the Tucson (296 per model year), but NHTSA does not publish sales data, so these totals are not normalized per vehicle sold.
How do the two compare on fuel economy?: The RAV4 averages 25.6 mpg combined across its lineup, while the Tucson averages 24.2 mpg combined.