2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 4 RAV4 Prime years
The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime has 99 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 100, and ranks worst (1 of 4 model years), earning an Avoid verdict relative to other RAV4 Prime years. It carries 4 recalls, with Electrical System issues making up 37% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 99
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 12 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 38
- 40 city / 36 hwy
Top 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System37 (37%)
- Other26 (26%)
- Fuel System18 (18%)
- Brakes16 (16%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras10 (10%)
- Engine7 (7%)
- Airbags5 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (3%)
- Lane Departure2 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report sudden, violent unintended acceleration at low speeds, such as when pulling into a parking spot or driveway, leading to crashes into vehicles or structures.
- Some drivers describe braking failure where the system did not transition from regenerative to physical braking, causing the car to keep moving despite hard braking.
- Owners report the Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Collision Warning systems failing to engage or activating with a delay before a collision.
- Some report airbags failing to deploy during a crash even when the vehicle detected impact.
- One owner described arcing noises and an electrical fire smell while charging, along with fault codes and the vehicle refusing to charge afterward.
- A driver reported losing steering control at highway speed, causing the vehicle to sway and hit a curb.
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V478000Jul 12, 2023Electrical System43,442 vehicles
Electrical system:propulsion system:dc/dc converter
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021-2022 RAV4 Prime and 2022 Lexus NX450h+ plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicles. The electric current rectifying module contained within the DC-DC converter may have been damaged during production, which can result in an electrical short-circuit.
Risk: A short circuit can cause the DC-DC converter to overheat, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to charge their vehicles when the ambient air temperature is below or expected to drop below 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5 degrees Celsius). Dealers will replace the DC-DC converter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 29, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB07/23LB01.
- NHTSA 23V041000Feb 2, 2023Electrical System16,679 vehicles
Electrical system:propulsion system:hybrid management:power control unit/module (hpcu)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2021 RAV4 Prime Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. During certain cold weather driving conditions, while driving in EV Mode, the hybrid vehicle control engine control unit (HEV ECU) software may cause the hybrid system to shut down if the accelerator is rapidly pressed to further accelerate the vehicle, resulting in a stall.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the HEV ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 27, 2023. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TA01.
- NHTSA 22V239000Apr 13, 2022Brakes458,110 vehicles
Electronic stability control (esc):control module:software
Toyota Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022 Lexus LX 600, Lexus NX 350h, Lexus NX 450h+, Toytoa RAV4 Hybrid, 2021-2022 Lexus LS 500h, Toyota Mirai, RAV4 PRIME, Sienna, Venza, and 2020-2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid vehicles. The Skid Control ECU software may not turn on the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system when the vehicle is restarted after the driver has disabled the VSC system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Risk: Driving with a deactivated stability control system increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Skid Control ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 22TA03. Lexus' number for this recall is 22LA01.
2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 40 MPG
- Highway
- 36 MPG
- Combined
- 38 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular Gas and Electricity
- 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.
2021 compared with other RAV4 Prime years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime a good year to avoid?
- Yes, relative to the other three RAV4 Prime model years with data, 2021 ranks worst with a complaint index of 100 and carries an Avoid verdict.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2021 RAV4 Prime?
- Electrical System complaints are the largest category, accounting for 37% of the 99 total complaints filed with NHTSA, followed by Fuel System issues at 18%.
- Does the 2021 RAV4 Prime have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2021 RAV4 Prime, covering the electrical rectifying module and charging system, cold-weather EV mode software, Skid Control ECU software, and improperly closed headlight aiming caps.
- How does the 2021 RAV4 Prime compare to newer model years?
- The 2022 RAV4 Prime has a complaint index of 0 and is rated Best, the 2023 has an index of 67 rated Caution, and the 2024 has an index of 33 rated Good, all better than the 2021's index of 100.
- How many people were hurt or killed due to 2021 RAV4 Prime problems reported to NHTSA?
- NHTSA data lists 5 injuries and 0 deaths tied to complaints, with 12 crashes and 1 fire reported for the 2021 RAV4 Prime.