2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
22/100
#8 most-complained of 10 RAV4 Hybrid years
The 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid ranks 8th out of 10 model years, with a complaint index of 22 and a Best verdict. It has 13 NHTSA complaints, 5 recalls, and no crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported.
- Complaints
- 13
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 40
- 41 city / 38 hwy
Top 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags4 (31%)
- Engine3 (23%)
- Electrical System2 (15%)
- Fuel System2 (15%)
- Steering1 (8%)
- Structure & Body1 (8%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (8%)
- Visibility & Wipers1 (8%)
What owners report
- Owners report delays getting the airbag sensor recall (23V865000) repaired due to parts not being available.
- Some drivers found mice had entered the engine bay through an opening, leaving droppings in the air filter housing and causing a foul odor from the vents.
- The steering became firm at startup and hard to turn, accompanied by a steering warning light, at 0 miles reported in one case.
- At 53,000 miles, an electronic throttle control warning lit up and a dealer said the motor generator rear (MGR) system needed replacement.
- A liftgate hinge cracked and snapped, leaving the power liftgate stuck partially open and inoperable.
- One owner reported repeated no-start incidents around 33,846 miles that were traced to a failed battery.
2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V865000Dec 20, 2023Airbags999,901 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
- NHTSA 20V734000Nov 25, 2020Steering161 vehicles
Steering:column
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Toyota Avalon and 2020 Avalon Hybrid, RAV4, and RAV4 Hybrid vehicles. Breakaway pins within the steering column, designed to absorb energy and reduce injury during a crash, could have been damaged during production, possibly affecting the performance of the driver's air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not perform as designed can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering column, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB17/20TA17.
- NHTSA 20V373000Jun 24, 2020Steering46 vehicles
Steering:electric power assist system
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019-2020 RAV4 and 2020 RAV4 Hybrid vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS). Water may enter through the steering gear box cover and cause a loss of electric power steering assist.
Risk: A loss of power steering assist could increase steering effort at low vehicle speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear box, free of charge. The recall began August 17, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TB11 / 20TA11.
2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 41 MPG
- Highway
- 38 MPG
- Combined
- 40 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,600
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2020 compared with other RAV4 Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 RAV4 Hybrid ranks 8th out of 10 model years with a complaint index of 22 and a Best verdict relative to other RAV4 Hybrid years.
- What recalls does the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid have?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2020 RAV4 Hybrid, covering airbags, steering (two separate recalls), suspension, and engine components. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- What is the top complaint area for the 2020 RAV4 Hybrid?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 31% of the 13 complaints, largely tied to delays in getting the 23V865000 recall repair completed.
- How does the 2020 RAV4 Hybrid compare to the 2019 and 2021 model years?
- The 2019 model year has a complaint index of 89 and a 2021 has 78, both rated Avoid, while the 2020 model year has a much lower complaint index of 22 and rates Best.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid?
- EPA rates it at 40 mpg combined (41 city, 38 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,600.