YearToAvoid

2011 Toyota RAV4 Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 54 brake complaints for the 2011 Toyota RAV4, 19% of all complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 37,000. There are no related recalls tied to this brake data, and 15 of the complaints involved crashes.

Brakes complaints
54
19% of 287
Crashes reported
15
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
3
Median mileage
37,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners describe the brake pedal sinking toward the floor with reduced or no stopping power at low speeds, sometimes ending in a crash.
  • Several drivers report sudden loss of braking effectiveness during braking events, including one case where ABS reportedly did nothing to slow the car in the rain.
  • A cluster of complaints describes unintended acceleration paired with brakes that failed to counteract it, leading to collisions.
  • Some owners noticed persistent brake noise and were told by dealers that inspection found no fault with the linings or parking brake adjustment.
  • One driver reported an intermittent brake failure pattern that occurred randomly a couple of times over a six-week span rather than every time the brakes were used.

When 2011 Toyota RAV4 brake complaints were filed

First complaint May 12, 2011, latest Sep 24, 2023.

2011 Toyota RAV4 brakes complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2011Aug 2012Jan 2014Nov 2014Jun 2015Jan 2018Jun 2019Jul 2023
54 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2011 to Sep 2023; peak Dec 2014 (4).

Brakes recalls for the 2011 Toyota RAV4

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by RAV4 model year

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

  1. 201039 (10%)
  2. 201154 (19%)
  3. 201244 (17%)
  4. 201325 (10%)
  5. 201418 (9%)
  6. 201533 (11%)
  7. 201647 (20%)
  8. 201739 (13%)
  9. 201831 (9%)
  10. 201938 (4%)
  11. 202020 (3%)
  12. 202121 (5%)
  13. 20228 (6%)
  14. 202317 (11%)
  15. 202416 (9%)
  16. 20257 (8%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does NHTSA have on the 2011 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA lists 54 brake-related complaints for the 2011 RAV4, which is 19% of the 287 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2011 Toyota RAV4 brakes?
No related recalls are listed for this brake complaint data.
At what mileage do 2011 RAV4 brake problems tend to show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 37,000 miles.
Did the brake issues cause crashes or injuries?
Of the 54 brake complaints, 15 involved crashes and 3 involved injuries, according to NHTSA data.
How does 2011 compare to other RAV4 model years for brake complaints?
The 2011 RAV4's 19% share of complaints tied to brakes is higher than most other years listed, including 10% for 2010 and 2013, though 2016 also reached 20%.

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.