YearToAvoid

2010 Toyota RAV4 Visibility & Wipers Problems

NHTSA lists 24 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2010 Toyota RAV4, 6% of the year's 400 total complaints. Two recalls (15V577000 and 15V689000) cover wiper linkage and water diverter issues, and owners reported delays getting parts. Median mileage at failure was 75,000.

Visibility & Wipers complaints
24
6% of 400 complaints
All complaints this year
400
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
75,000 mi
Related recalls
2

Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report

  • Rear windshield wiper gets blocked by snow buildup near the mounted spare tire, forcing owners to exit the vehicle to clear it manually.
  • Front windshield wipers stop working entirely and are reported as inoperable.
  • Driver-side sun visor droops down about 1.5 inches and blocks the view of traffic lights.
  • Owners who received recall notice 15V577000 for the wiper linkage and water diverter channel reported that replacement parts were unavailable for extended periods, delaying the repair.
  • Some owners linked the wiper recall notice to other simultaneous recall notifications (seat belts, campaign 16V096000) received on the same vehicle.

When 2010 Toyota RAV4 visibility and wiper complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 30, 2010, latest Jun 7, 2023.

2010 Toyota RAV4 visibility & wipers complaints: complaints filed per month3Sep 2010Feb 2016May 2016Oct 2016Apr 2017Jan 2018
24 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2010 to Jun 2023; peak Oct 2016 (3).

Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2010 Toyota RAV4

  1. NHTSA 15V689000Oct 22, 2015Visibility & Wipers1,814,284 vehicles

    Visibility:power window devices and controls

    Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.

    Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.

  2. NHTSA 15V577000Sep 18, 2015Visibility & Wipers423,456 vehicles

    Visibility/wiper

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 27, 2008, to December 19, 2012 and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the affected vehicles, water may drip onto the joint that connects the wiper linkage to the wiper motor.

    Risk: Over time, the dripping water may cause corrosion and wear at the joint, potentially resulting in the separation of the wiper linkage. Once this occurs, the wipers would not function, reducing driver visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water diverter channel. In addition, a new wiper linkage with a wiper motor crank arm will be installed. The wiper linkage will have a protective cover over the wiper linkage joint to minimize water splash and a retainer ring to prevent the wiper arm from separating from the wiper motor. The recall began on November 7, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service number at 1-800-331-4331.

Visibility & Wipers complaints by RAV4 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20059 (6%)
  2. 200630 (4%)
  3. 200750 (5%)
  4. 200816 (3%)
  5. 20097 (2%)
  6. 201024 (6%)
  7. 201150 (17%)
  8. 201259 (23%)
  9. 201313 (5%)
  10. 20148 (4%)
  11. 20158 (3%)
  12. 201616 (7%)
  13. 201711 (4%)
  14. 201821 (6%)
  15. 201922 (3%)
  16. 202017 (3%)
  17. 202130 (8%)
  18. 20226 (4%)
  19. 202311 (7%)
  20. 20248 (5%)
  21. 202511 (13%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2010 Toyota RAV4 have a wiper recall?
Yes. Recall 15V577000 covers the water diverter channel and wiper linkage on 2009-2012 RAV4 vehicles, and recall 15V689000 also addresses a visibility-related switch issue on related Toyota models.
How common are wiper and visibility complaints on the 2010 RAV4?
NHTSA lists 24 complaints in the Visibility & Wipers area for the 2010 RAV4, which is 6% of the 400 total complaints filed for that model year.
What did 2010 RAV4 owners report about the wipers?
Owners reported inoperable front wipers, a rear wiper that gets jammed by snow near the spare tire, and delays in getting recall parts to complete the wiper linkage repair.
At what mileage do wiper problems typically show up on the 2010 RAV4?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 75,000 miles.
Were there any crashes or injuries linked to the 2010 RAV4 wiper issues?
No. NHTSA data shows 0 crashes, 0 fires, and 0 injuries associated with the 24 Visibility & Wipers complaints for this model year.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.