YearToAvoid

2023 Toyota RAV4 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#7 most-complained of 16 RAV4 years

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 has a complaint index of 60 and ranks 7th worst out of 16 model years, earning a 'Caution' rating. NHTSA lists 155 complaints, 3 recalls, and 18 crashes, with electrical system issues being the top concern.

Complaints
155
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
18 / 1
Injuries / deaths
14 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29.5
27 city / 33.5 hwy

Top 2023 Toyota RAV4 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other43 (28%)
  2. Electrical System42 (27%)
  3. Engine32 (21%)
  4. Steering26 (17%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras22 (14%)
  6. Brakes17 (11%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body11 (7%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain11 (7%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers11 (7%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration at low speeds while parking, sometimes overriding braking input.
  • Some describe brakes failing without warning while maneuvering into garages or parking spots, resulting in collisions.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during moderate-speed crashes, including head-on and side-impact collisions.
  • Owners report the rearview camera cutting out for several seconds while backing up, leading to collisions with unseen vehicles.
  • A steering-related loss of control at high speed was reported, resulting in a crash and subsequent fire.
2023 Toyota RAV4 complaints: complaints filed per month23Dec 2022Aug 2023Jan 2024Jun 2024Jan 2025Jul 2025Dec 2025May 2026
252 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2022 to Sep 2026; peak May 2025 (23).

2023 Toyota RAV4 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V744000Oct 30, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,024,407 vehicles

    Back over prevention:display function

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.

  2. NHTSA 25V595000Sep 11, 2025Electrical System591,377 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Toyota Venza, 2023-2025 RAV4 Prime, RAV4, Highlander, GR Corolla, Crown, 2024-2025 Lexus TX, LS, Toyota Tacoma, Grand Highlander, and 2025 Lexus RX, Toyota Crown Signia, Camry, RAV 4 Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), and 4 Runner vehicles. Due to an error in the instrument panel software at vehicle startup, the instrument panel may fail to display vehicle speed, brake system, and tire pressure warning lights.

    Risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument panel software over-the-air (OTA) for non-PHEV vehicles, free of charge. For PHEV vehicles, dealers will inspect the instrument panel assembly, and either replace it, or update the software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 5, 2025. Additional letters will be sent, anticipated in May 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB08 and 25TA08. Lexus' numbers for this recall are 25LB05 and 25LA05.

  3. NHTSA 23V485000Jul 11, 2023Suspension, Wheels & Tires195 vehicles

    Tires:valve

    Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2023 Toyota RAV4 vehicles equipped with 17" black alloy accessory wheels. During installation of the alloy wheels, the tire valve stem may have been improperly installed or damaged. In addition, the load carrying capacity label may state the incorrect weight. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: A damaged or improperly installed valve stem may allow air to leak and/or the tires to be underinflated, increasing the risk of tire failure and a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the wheel valve stems and replace the load carrying capacity modification labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 18, 2023. Owners may contact GST customer service at 1-800-444-1074. GST's number for this recall is 23R1.

2023 Toyota RAV4 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
33.5 MPG
Combined
29.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,200
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.

2023 compared with other RAV4 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2021Avoid93386129.5
2022Good27145129.5
2023Caution60155329.5
2024Avoid87174329
2025Caution7387330

All Toyota RAV4 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Toyota RAV4 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2023 RAV4 a complaint index of 60, ranking it 7th worst among 16 model years, with a 'Caution' verdict relative to other RAV4 years.
What problems does the 2023 Toyota RAV4 have?
NHTSA lists 155 complaints for the 2023 RAV4, led by the Electrical System (42 complaints, 27% share), followed by Engine (32 complaints), Steering (26 complaints), and Collision Avoidance & Cameras (22 complaints).
Does the 2023 Toyota RAV4 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2023 RAV4, covering the Panoramic View Monitor software, an instrument panel software update, and a wheel valve stem issue on vehicles with 17-inch accessory wheels.
How does the 2023 RAV4 compare to other RAV4 years?
The 2023 RAV4's complaint index of 60 is lower than the worst years like 2019 (100) and 2021 (93), which are rated 'Avoid', but higher than top years like 2014 (0) and 2012 (7), which are rated 'Best'.
What is the top problem area for the 2023 RAV4?
The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 42 of 155 complaints, or 27% of the total, with a median failure mileage of 21,000 miles.

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.