2011 Toyota RAV4 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2011 Toyota RAV4 has a Complaint Index of 30 and ranks 15th of 21 model years, with a Caution verdict capped by 11 recall campaigns. Engine problems dominate, making up 34% of its 287 complaints, with a median failure mileage of 38,620 miles.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 30/100
- #15 of 21 RAV4 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 287
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 11
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 44
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 8
- Injuries
- 20
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- 3 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 22.5
- 20 city / 26.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 20 / 0
Top 2011 Toyota RAV4 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine98 (34%)
- Brakes54 (19%)
- Visibility & Wipers50 (17%)
- Seat Belts30 (10%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires26 (9%)
- Transmission & Powertrain25 (9%)
- Electrical System21 (7%)
- Airbags20 (7%)
- Structure & Body19 (7%)
- Steering15 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while parking, turning, or idling at stoplights, sometimes ending in a crash into another vehicle or a house.
- Some vehicles reportedly rolled backward unexpectedly after being shifted into drive or reverse.
- Airbag deployments in low-to-moderate speed crashes were described as harder than expected, with reports of smoke and injuries such as bruising and a cracked rib.
- Several complaints describe the front of the vehicle catching fire immediately after a low-impact collision, with the hood and battery melting.
- One driver reported the vehicle veering left on its own and crashing into a tree, followed by a fire.
- Brake noise and reduced stopping performance were reported, with dealers sometimes unable to confirm a defect after inspection.
2011 Toyota RAV4 recalls
11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V596000Aug 12, 2016Suspension, Wheels & Tires337,449 vehicles
Suspension:rear
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 31, 2005, to September 7, 2010, and 2010 Lexus HS250h vehicles manufactured July 6, 2009, to August 26, 2010. The affected vehicles have rear suspension arms (rear tie rods) with adjusting lock nuts that may have been improperly tightened after servicing. As a result of being loose, the arm may have thread damage and may rust, possibly leading to the failure of the arm and an abrupt change in the vehicle's alignment.
Risk: Failure of the rear tie rod could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners and dealers will replace both rear suspension arms and encapsulate the locknuts, free of charge. The recall began on September 30, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are G0V for Toyota vehicles and GLK for Lexus vehicles. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-383, in which some vehicles were only inspected, sealed, and did not have both arms replaced. The affected vehicles were previously recalled under 13V-383, but did not have both rear suspension arms replaced at that time. Those vehicles need to have both arms replaced as part of this recall remedy.
- NHTSA 16V396000Jun 2, 2016Structure & Body7,749 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
- NHTSA 16V096000Feb 19, 2016Seat Belts1,123,752 vehicles
Seat belts:rear/other
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 RAV4 vehicles manufactured July 28, 2005, to December 19, 2012, and 2012-2014 RAV4 EV vehicles manufactured July 24, 2012, to August 29, 2014. In the event of a frontal collision, the rear seat belts for the outboard seats may be cut by the seat cushion frame.
Risk: A cut seat belt may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will install a protector over both rear seat cushion frames, free of charge. The recall began on June 24, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0F.
2011 Toyota RAV4 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 26.5 MPG
- Combined
- 22.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,875
- 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.
2011 compared with other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2011 RAV4 a Complaint Index of 30 and a Caution verdict relative to other RAV4 years. The verdict is capped at Caution mainly because of 11 recall campaigns requiring a dealer visit, even though its complaint index is moderate.
- What is the most common problem with the 2011 Toyota RAV4?
- Engine complaints are the largest category, accounting for 34% of the 287 complaints filed with NHTSA, with a median failure mileage of 38,620 miles.
- Does the 2011 Toyota RAV4 have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2011 RAV4, covering areas including suspension, seat belts, visibility/wipers, and structure & body. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2011 RAV4 compare to other RAV4 years?
- The 2011 model ranks 15th worst out of 21 model years by Complaint Index. Years like 2012, 2013, and 2014 rate Best with much lower complaint indexes of 15, 10, and 5.
- Were there crashes or fires linked to the 2011 RAV4?
- NHTSA records 44 crashes and 8 fires among the 287 complaints for the 2011 RAV4, along with 20 injuries and no deaths.