2014 Toyota RAV4 Structure & Body Problems
NHTSA lists 21 Structure & Body complaints for the 2014 Toyota RAV4, 11% of that year's 197 total complaints. Six crashes and 12 injuries are tied to this area, with a median failure mileage of 25,000 miles. One related recall (campaign 15V011000) covers a trailer light module, not the structural issues owners describe.
- Structure & Body complaints
- 21
- 11% of 197
- Crashes reported
- 6
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 12
- Median mileage
- 25,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical body and structure symptoms owners report
- Door locks fail to engage or release electronically, forcing owners to lock and unlock doors manually.
- The power liftgate becomes inconsistent, stopping partway or not closing fully, sometimes needing repeated dealer resets.
- Owners describe a sudden loud noise and sunroof breakage they compare to an explosion, with glass shattering without impact.
- Paint peels off the hood and door panels while the vehicle is parked, with no warning light involved.
- Rainwater leaks into the cabin through the A, B, C, and D pillars and the ceiling control area, recurring after repairs.
- In crash situations, the driver seat has been reported to collapse or deform under impact.
When 2014 Toyota RAV4 body and structure complaints were filed
First complaint Jul 16, 2014, latest Aug 4, 2026.
Structure & Body recalls for the 2014 Toyota RAV4
- 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.
Structure & Body complaints by RAV4 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Structure & Body a common complaint area for the 2014 Toyota RAV4?
- Yes. NHTSA records 21 Structure & Body complaints for the 2014 model year, which is 11% of the 197 total complaints filed for that year.
- Are there any recalls related to structure or body issues on the 2014 RAV4?
- There is one related recall, campaign 15V011000, but it covers a trailer light module software issue, not the door lock, liftgate, sunroof, or water leak problems owners describe.
- At what mileage do these structure and body problems tend to show up?
- The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2014 RAV4 is 25,000 miles.
- Do structure and body complaints on the 2014 RAV4 involve crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data shows 6 crashes and 12 injuries linked to Structure & Body complaints on this model year.
- How does the 2014 RAV4 compare to other years for this problem area?
- The 2014 RAV4's 21 complaints (11% share) are similar to 2013 (30 complaints, 12%) and 2015 (31 complaints, 10%), suggesting the issue is not unique to 2014.