YearToAvoid

2013 Toyota RAV4 Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 25 brake complaints for the 2013 Toyota RAV4, 10% of its 257 total complaints for the year. Six crashes and one injury are linked to this component, with a median failure mileage of 20,000 miles. No related recalls are on file for this issue.

Brakes complaints
25
10% of 257
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
20,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal sinking to the floor with little or no stopping power, sometimes ending in a collision.
  • Several describe sudden brake failure while parking or driving at low speed, striking objects or vehicles nearby.
  • Some owners report the anti-lock braking system engaging improperly, causing the vehicle to slide when brakes are applied at higher speeds.
  • One complaint describes a 'power brake actuator' failing repeatedly while driving, accompanied by dash warning lights and loss of stability and traction control functions.
  • Owners also report persistent squeaking or soft-feeling brakes that require unusually hard pedal pressure to stop, even after pad and rotor inspections.
  • A few describe brake shaking or shuddering after extended hard braking.

When 2013 Toyota RAV4 brake complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 27, 2013, latest Apr 12, 2024.

2013 Toyota RAV4 brakes complaints: complaints filed per month2Sep 2013Feb 2014Oct 2014Jan 2016Jun 2016Nov 2017May 2019Dec 2021
25 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2013 to Apr 2024; peak Apr 2016 (2).

Brakes recalls for the 2013 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 for the 2013 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA lists 25 brake-related complaints for the 2013 RAV4, which is 10% of the 257 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2013 Toyota RAV4 brakes?
No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to the brake complaints for the 2013 RAV4.
At what mileage do 2013 RAV4 brake problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 20,000 miles.
Are the 2013 RAV4 brake problems dangerous?
NHTSA records 6 crashes and 1 injury connected to brake complaints for this model year, with owners describing pedal failure, reduced stopping power, and ABS-related sliding.
How does 2013 compare to other RAV4 years for brake complaints?
The 2013 RAV4's 25 brake complaints and 10% share are lower than 2011 (54 complaints, 19%) and 2016 (47 complaints, 20%), suggesting this issue was less concentrated in 2013 relative to those years.

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.