2017 Toyota RAV4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
40/100
#10 most-complained of 16 RAV4 years
The 2017 Toyota RAV4 has a complaint index of 40 and ranks 10th worst out of 16 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other RAV4 years. Electrical System issues dominate at 44% of complaints, with 3 recalls on record.
- Complaints
- 307
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes / fires
- 33 / 24
- Injuries / deaths
- 28 / 2
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 25
- 22.5 city / 28.5 hwy
Top 2017 Toyota RAV4 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System136 (44%)
- Other63 (21%)
- Engine46 (15%)
- Brakes39 (13%)
- Structure & Body23 (7%)
- Airbags20 (7%)
- Transmission & Powertrain16 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires14 (5%)
- Fuel System13 (4%)
- Steering12 (4%)
What owners report
- Owners report the vehicle catching fire under the hood or in the engine compartment, sometimes after a crash and sometimes while parked or driving.
- Owners describe smoke or a burning smell coming through the air vents followed by loss of power and flames from under the hood.
- Some owners report the vehicle failing to slow down when brakes were applied, leading to a minor collision.
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration while slowing down at a stop, with the foot off the gas pedal, resulting in a collision.
- Owners report the steering wheel losing normal function while driving at low speed, causing loss of control and a crash.
- Some owners describe the rear subframe cracking near the wheel bolt, causing violent side-to-side jerking while driving.
2017 Toyota RAV4 recalls
3 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 19V503000Jun 28, 2019Other1,325 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: An incorrect label may lead to unintentionally overloading the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: SET will notify owners and provide a corrected label for placement over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. SET's number for this recall is SET19A.
- NHTSA 17V295000May 2, 2017Suspension, Wheels & Tires409 vehicles
Tires:temporary/emergency spare tire
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the proper pressure as stated on the Tire Pressure Label.
Risk: A spare tire that is not inflated to the proper value may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Gulf States will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the spare tires, adjusting their pressure as necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 15, 2017. Owners may contact Gulf States customer service at 1-800-444-1074. Toyota's number for this recall is 17R2.
2017 Toyota RAV4 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 22.5 MPG
- Highway
- 28.5 MPG
- Combined
- 25 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,600
- 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.
2017 compared with other RAV4 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2017 RAV4 has a complaint index of 40 and ranks 10th worst among 16 model years covered, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other RAV4 years.
- What problems does the 2017 Toyota RAV4 have?
- The top problem area is the Electrical System, accounting for 44% of complaints (136 complaints), including 15 fires and 4 crashes. Engine issues follow at 15% and Brakes at 13%.
- Does the 2017 Toyota RAV4 have a recall?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2017 RAV4, covering the electrical system (a 12-volt battery tray fit issue), a floor mat label correction, and a spare tire pressure inspection.
- What is the median mileage for RAV4 electrical system failures?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 25,000 miles at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2017 RAV4.
- How does the 2017 RAV4 compare to other years?
- The 2017 RAV4's complaint index of 40 is lower than the 2019 (100), 2020 (80), 2021 (93), and 2024 (87) model years, which are marked 'Avoid', making 2017 comparatively better within the RAV4 lineup.