YearToAvoid

2015 Toyota RAV4 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 56 Engine-related complaints for the 2015 Toyota RAV4, 18% of its 304 total complaints for the year, with 18 fires and 11 crashes reported. Median mileage at failure was 22,000 miles. No related recalls are listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
56
18% of 304
Crashes reported
11
Fires reported
18
Injuries reported
7
Median mileage
22,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Some owners report smoke or flames emerging from under the hood shortly after parking or shutting off the engine, in some cases leading to total loss of the vehicle.
  • Several complaints describe sudden unintended acceleration while braking or shifting into park, resulting in collisions with walls, parked cars, or trees.
  • Some drivers report the steering wheel seizing along with warning lights illuminating and loss of motive power, accompanied by smoke from the engine area.
  • A few owners describe the vehicle continuing to rev or accelerate even while the brake pedal was firmly depressed.

When 2015 Toyota RAV4 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 11, 2015, latest Mar 2, 2026.

2015 Toyota RAV4 engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2015May 2016Dec 2017Jun 2020Mar 2022Nov 2022Jan 2024Jan 2026
56 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2015 to Mar 2026; peak Jul 2021 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2015 Toyota RAV4

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by RAV4 model year

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

  1. 2010107 (27%)
  2. 201198 (34%)
  3. 201269 (27%)
  4. 201345 (18%)
  5. 201438 (19%)
  6. 201556 (18%)
  7. 201636 (15%)
  8. 201746 (15%)
  9. 201850 (15%)
  10. 2019239 (27%)
  11. 2020205 (32%)
  12. 202146 (12%)
  13. 202234 (23%)
  14. 202332 (21%)
  15. 202446 (26%)
  16. 202518 (21%)

Frequently asked questions

How many 2015 RAV4 owners reported engine problems?
NHTSA lists 56 Engine-related complaints for the 2015 RAV4, which is 18% of the 304 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for 2015 RAV4 engine problems?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine issue.
At what mileage do 2015 RAV4 engine problems typically occur?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 22,000 miles for these engine complaints.
Did the 2015 RAV4 engine issues cause fires or crashes?
NHTSA records show 18 fires and 11 crashes among the engine-related complaints for the 2015 RAV4, with 7 injuries reported.
Is the 2015 RAV4 worse than other years for engine complaints?
Its 18% share of complaints tied to Engine issues is lower than 2010 (27%), 2011 (34%), 2019 (27%), and 2020 (32%), based on NHTSA data.

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.