2013 Toyota RAV4 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Best The 2013 Toyota RAV4 has a complaint index of 10, ranking 19th of 21 model years by problems, and earns a Best verdict relative to other RAV4 years. NHTSA lists 257 complaints, 2 recalls, and a median failure mileage of 20,000, with the Electrical System as the top problem area.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 10/100
- #19 of 21 RAV4 years
- Verdict
- Best
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 257
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 22
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 29
- Injuries
- 15
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 25.5
- 22.5 city / 29.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 15 / 1
Top 2013 Toyota RAV4 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System76 (30%)
- Other55 (21%)
- Engine45 (18%)
- Structure & Body30 (12%)
- Transmission & Powertrain29 (11%)
- Brakes25 (10%)
- Airbags13 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers13 (5%)
- Steering11 (4%)
- Fuel System9 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report airbags failing to deploy in moderate-speed collisions, including impacts with animals and t-bone crashes.
- Brake pedals reportedly went to the floor with no stopping power, leading to crashes at low mileage.
- One owner described an engine fire starting under normal driving conditions at 17,500 miles with no prior accident.
- A driver reported the accelerator pedal sticking and the vehicle accelerating into a wall.
- One owner reported rear headrests obscuring visibility out the back window.
- An airbag deployed in a crash but reportedly did not deflate, trapping the driver inside.
2013 Toyota RAV4 recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V734000Nov 1, 2023Electrical System1,853,568 vehicles
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
Risk: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
- NHTSA 15V011000Jan 16, 2015Structure & Body1,140 vehicles
Trailer hitches
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Toyota Rav4 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2013, to December 29, 2014, and equipped with an accessory trailer light module. The software within the module may incorrectly detect an electrical short and preventively turn off the electrical current and the trailer lights.
Risk: If the system incorrectly detects an electrical short and turns off the trailer lights while the trailer is being towed at night, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will replace the trailer light module with a new unit with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET-15A.
2013 Toyota RAV4 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 22.5 MPG
- Highway
- 29.5 MPG
- Combined
- 25.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,550
- 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.
2013 compared with other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 RAV4 has a complaint index of 10, the lowest among most RAV4 years, and carries a Best verdict relative to other RAV4 model years.
- What problems does the 2013 Toyota RAV4 have?
- NHTSA data shows the Electrical System is the top problem area with 76 complaints (30% share) and 14 reported fires, followed by Engine issues with 45 complaints and 9 fires.
- Does the 2013 Toyota RAV4 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2013 RAV4: one for a battery clamp/tray fit issue (campaign 23V734000) and one for trailer light module software (campaign 15V011000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2013 RAV4 compare to other RAV4 years?
- The 2013 RAV4 ranks 19th worst out of 21 model years by complaint index, meaning most other years score worse; years like 2007, 2019, 2020, and 2021 carry Avoid verdicts with much higher complaint indexes of 85, 95, 90, and 100.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Toyota RAV4?
- EPA rates the 2013 RAV4 at 25.5 mpg combined (22.5 city / 29.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,550.